Compare towns
Barnard vs Bolton vs Calais vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Barnard | Bolton | Calais | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,163Lowest |
1,713 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Bolton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Bolton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.