Compare towns
West Rutland vs Castleton vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Rutland has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Barnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
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 | West Rutland | Castleton | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,240 |
4,453Highest |
1,855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.1Highest 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| West Rutland and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.8%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,161±$27kLowest 25% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$27kLowest 38% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$247,900±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
| Barnet and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $883±$151Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Castleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,498 31% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.1%±22.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and West Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| West Rutland and Barnet 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.