Compare towns
Castleton vs Williston vs Barnet
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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Barnet has the most people working from home (55%).
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 | Williston | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453 |
10,144Highest |
61Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
62.2±45.8Highest 44% above VT |
| Barnet and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
31.1%±29.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Williston 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
36.1%±44.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Williston 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
59.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0%±23.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$57,917±$16kLowest 29% below VT |
| Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$204,200±$38kLowest 36% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$2,950Lowest 41% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
— |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
47.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
100%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
— |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
55%±29Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.