Compare towns
Barnard vs Jericho vs Castleton vs Westford
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%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Jericho | Castleton | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
5,114Highest |
4,453 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Jericho and Westford 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% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Castleton 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Jericho and Westford 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Jericho 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 |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 21% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.