Compare towns

Windham vs Castleton vs Wheelock 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureWindhamCastletonWheelockWorcester
People
Population
594Lowest
4,453Highest
717
831
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.5%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
47±2.7
9% above VT
Wheelock and Worcester 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%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock 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%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%
VT: 43.8%
34.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$64,792±$20kLowest
20% below VT
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
Windham and Castleton 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±$71k
29% below VT
$189,600±$37kLowest
40% below VT
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,137±$195Highest
8% below VT
—
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
Castleton and Worcester 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
$3,167
37% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Windham 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%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
28 min
17% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
Work from home
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16
VT: 16.9%
23.6%±4.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
Worcester and Wheelock 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 — —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.