Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Stowe vs Hinesburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Hinesburg has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Williston | Castleton | Stowe | Hinesburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,453Lowest |
5,285 |
4,718 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
64.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT |
| Hinesburg and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$463,400±$51k 46% above VT |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,651±$155 34% above VT |
| Williston and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$7,667Highest 52% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.2%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #4 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Stowe Town School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Stowe High School | Champlain Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3Lowest |
14.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.