Compare towns
Monroe vs Castleton vs Barnet vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monroe has the highest household income ($88k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Monroe | Castleton | Barnet | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 786 |
4,453Highest |
1,855 |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Lyman and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.3%±8.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyman and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,042±$17k 12% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,700±$58kHighest 6% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$311,100±$66k 6% below U.S. |
| Monroe and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,147±$81Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Lyman and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,981 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.7%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Castleton 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 | Monroe School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.