Compare towns
Castleton vs Barnard vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Castleton | Barnard | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
2,992 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below 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 | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.