Compare towns
Duxbury vs Castleton vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Duxbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Duxbury | Castleton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,548 |
4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.5±4.4Lowest 13% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.4±6Highest about the VT average |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 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+ | 13%±2.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,208±$25kHighest 30% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
| Duxbury and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $364,600±$27k 15% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,318±$407 7% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Duxbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,564Highest 30% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.6%±3.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Duxbury 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | Harwood Union Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — |
| 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.