Compare towns
Windham vs Castleton vs Arlington vs Worcester
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 most expensive homes ($354k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Arlington has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Castleton | Arlington | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,598 |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.6±4Lowest 13% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Arlington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$102,308±$11kHighest 26% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Arlington and Windham 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,500±$59k about the VT average |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Windham and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,191±$172Highest 3% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Arlington and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,549 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
77.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Arlington and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
35.9%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Arlington and Worcester 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 | #50 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Arlington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Arlington Memorial | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.