Compare towns
Cambridge vs Barnard vs Putney vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most renters (29.7% rent).
Barnard has the highest household income ($98k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Cambridge | Barnard | Putney | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,767 |
1,211Lowest |
2,622 |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.4±1.8 13% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 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 | $72,344±$19kLowest 11% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Barnard and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,000±$38k 8% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Barnard and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,183±$66 4% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,910 about the VT average |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.6%±7.3 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.7% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 38% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Putney 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 | #25 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Cambridge School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.