Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Castleton vs Milton
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 homeowners (88.4%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Barre | Berlin | Castleton | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005 |
2,880Lowest |
4,453 |
10,769Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$372,500±$20kHighest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 24% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
| Milton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 6% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,610Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Milton 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.3 |
| 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.