Compare towns
Castleton vs Cavendish vs Barnard
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).
Cavendish has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Castleton | Cavendish | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,242 |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.2±5.9Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Cavendish 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 |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% 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 | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Cavendish 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Cavendish 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 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.