Compare towns

Belvidere vs Berlin vs Castleton vs Waterville

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belvidere has the most kids (22% under 18).
Berlin has the most people working from home (11.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).

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.

MeasureBelvidereBerlinCastletonWaterville
People
Population
422Lowest
2,880
4,453Highest
680
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.7±6.5
6% below VT
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
49.1±8.2
14% above VT
Berlin and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
20.4%±8.2
VT: 17.9%
Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
8.8%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
14.4%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.9%
VT: 43.8%
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
5.3%±3.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,563±$18k
about the VT average
$86,691±$21kHighest
7% above VT
$73,854±$23k
9% below VT
$71,250±$27kLowest
12% below VT
Berlin and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$239,200±$51k
24% below VT
$273,600±$31kHighest
14% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$236,300±$15k
25% below VT
Berlin and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,542±$1kHighest
25% above VT
$1,169±$171
5% below VT
$1,137±$195
8% below VT
$1,110±$93Lowest
10% below VT
Belvidere and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,908
22% below VT
$4,418Highest
12% below VT
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$3,957
21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.7%±53.8
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±27.2
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.5%
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.1%
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
38 minHighest
60% above VT
21 min
10% below VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
38 minHighest
60% above VT
Work from home
9.4%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
8.5%±3
VT: 16.9%
Berlin and Belvidere 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 — #16 of 70 in VT #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
High school in town — None in town None in town None in town
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.