Compare towns
Barre vs Bennington vs Castleton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.7%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k 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 | Barre | Bennington | Castleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
15,249Highest |
4,453 |
2,622Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3Highest 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bennington and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Castleton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 3% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
19 minHighest 17% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Bennington 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
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| 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.