Compare towns
Windham vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Plainfield | Castleton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
1,314 |
4,453Highest |
497Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham and Plainfield 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
| Windham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
| Plainfield 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 |
$4,806 5% 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% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% 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 |
1955 21 yrs 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 |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 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 | — |
| High school 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.