Compare towns
Underhill vs Castleton vs Barnard vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most expensive homes ($446k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Underhill | Castleton | Barnard | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
4,453Highest |
1,211Lowest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6Highest about the VT average |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Underhill and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill and Barnard 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.