Compare towns
Putney 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
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Putney | Castleton | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% 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 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest 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+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Barnard and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 5% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.