Compare towns
Castleton vs Williston vs Barre
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Lowest |
10,144Highest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Barre 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Castleton 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% 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 |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest 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% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 17% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.