Compare towns
Windsor vs Castleton vs Fairfield vs West 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 renters (42.2% rent).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
West Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+22.3%).
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 | Fairfield | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,554 |
4,453Highest |
1,938 |
1,171Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1% VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
54±5.9Highest 25% above VT |
| West Windsor and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
$393,500±$41kHighest 24% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Castleton and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
$5,860Highest 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| West Windsor 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Mount Ascutney School District #86 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.