Compare towns
Barnard vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 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%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnard 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.