Compare towns
Windsor vs Waitsfield vs Castleton 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).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Waitsfield | Castleton | West Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,554 |
1,918 |
4,453Highest |
1,171Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+22.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±10 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.1%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$108,750±$18kHighest 34% above VT |
| West Windsor and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$393,500±$41k 24% above VT |
| Waitsfield and West Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,100±$217 11% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Castleton 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,860 16% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±3.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield and West 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.