Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Williston vs West Rutland
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
West Rutland has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Barnet | Castleton | Williston | West Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Lowest |
4,453 |
10,144Highest |
2,240 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.8±5.1Highest 11% above VT |
| West Rutland and Barnet 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Williston 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.8%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$61,161±$27kLowest 25% below VT |
| Williston 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$196,400±$27kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$883±$151Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,498 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
60.1%±22.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and West Rutland 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
22 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and West Rutland 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 | 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.