Compare towns
Barnard vs Bridgewater vs Castleton vs Williston
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).
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211 |
980Lowest |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest 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 |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Williston 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% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 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% |
54.9% 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% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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±$71k 27% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard 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 |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592 11% above 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% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.