Compare towns
Castleton vs Barnard vs Plainfield
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±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%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% 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 |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Barnard and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Plainfield 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.