Compare towns
Barre vs Castleton vs Windsor vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Barre | Castleton | Windsor | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
4,453 |
3,554 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 minHighest 3% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.