Compare towns
Vernon vs Highgate vs Castleton vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Barton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Vernon | Highgate | Castleton | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,709Lowest |
3,528 |
4,453Highest |
2,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.9±6.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Barton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±3.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.5%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,250±$16kLowest 18% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$201,200±$28kLowest 36% below VT |
| Vernon and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$793±$70Lowest 36% below VT |
| Castleton and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,355 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.6%±12.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
35 minHighest 50% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Barton 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 | #30 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District · Lake Region Union High School District #24 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Lake Region Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.