Compare towns
Bloomfield vs Castleton vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Columbia has the most people working from home (11.2%).
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 | Bloomfield | Castleton | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 234Lowest |
4,453Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±12 8% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Columbia and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±14.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bloomfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia and Bloomfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,375±$17kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$57,917±$13k 28% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $190,600±$63kLowest 43% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kHighest 32% below U.S. |
$196,400±$29k 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,800 10% below U.S. |
$3,167Highest about the U.S. average |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Columbia and Castleton 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.