Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Castleton vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Berlin | Castleton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,880 |
4,453 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2% 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 |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Barre 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barre 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% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% 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 |
1981Highest 5 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 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Orange 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 | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.