Compare towns
Windham vs Benson vs Castleton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
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 | Windham | Benson | Castleton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
784 |
4,453Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Windham 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.