Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Bridgewater | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton 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% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Castleton 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 |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Bridgewater 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.