Compare towns
Williamstown vs Worcester vs Castleton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Barre has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Williamstown | Worcester | Castleton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
831Lowest |
4,453 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Barre and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| 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.