Compare towns
Windsor vs Castleton vs Reading vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Windsor | Castleton | Reading | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
4,453Highest |
699Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Reading and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4kLowest 37% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
| Reading and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22kLowest 46% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Windsor 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.