Compare towns
Barnet vs Strafford vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Strafford | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,372Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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 |
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.