Compare towns
Williston vs Barre vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Williston | Barre | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
8,005 |
4,453Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Williston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barre 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.