Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Waterford
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 most kids (21.6% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Waterford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
4,453Highest |
1,279Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±5.3 5% above VT |
| Barnet and Waterford 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Castleton 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% |
21.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$109,375±$19kHighest 35% above VT |
| Waterford and Castleton 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 |
$271,500±$22kHighest 14% below VT |
| Waterford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
— |
| Castleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,238 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
99%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.3%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterford 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 | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None 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.