Compare towns

Leyden vs Castleton vs Bernardston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leyden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Bernardston has the most people working from home (12.7%).

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.

MeasureLeydenCastletonBernardston
People
Population
637Lowest
4,453Highest
2,164
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.2±8.2Highest
37% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
49±3.2
26% above U.S.
Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.8%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Castleton and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.6%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.9%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
29.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$105,893±$13kHighest
31% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$81,940±$10k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$372,900±$24kHighest
12% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$332,000±$15k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,917±$451Highest
36% above U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,283±$553
9% below U.S.
Leyden and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,651Highest
49% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,516
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Leyden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
77.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
11%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.7%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bernardston and Leyden 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 Pioneer Valley
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.