Compare towns
Castleton vs Sutton vs Barnard vs Poultney
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).
Sutton has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 34).
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 | Sutton | Barnard | Poultney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
790Lowest |
1,211 |
3,010 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
34±5.6Lowest 21% below VT |
| Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.8%±3.8 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Poultney 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% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
9.3%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$72,617±$6k 11% 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$206,200±$18kLowest 35% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$913±$84Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,520 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Poultney 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% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Sutton 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 | — | — | #41 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Poultney High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.5 |
| 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.