Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Castleton vs Springfield vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Bridgewater | Castleton | Springfield | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
4,453 |
9,084Highest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3k 13% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55k 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.