Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Sharon vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Barnet | Castleton | Sharon | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
4,453 |
1,577Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnet 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Sharon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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.