Compare towns
Berkshire vs Castleton vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berkshire has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Berkshire | Castleton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,745 |
4,453Highest |
1,070Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
38.3±4.3Highest 11% below VT |
32.9±6.5 24% below VT |
| Castleton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
30.7%±6.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Lowell and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Castleton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $244,600±$26kHighest 23% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT |
| Berkshire and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,525±$267Highest 24% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT |
| Berkshire and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Highest 30% below VT |
$3,167 37% below VT |
$2,810Lowest 44% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berkshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
94.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 37% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
55 minHighest 135% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.5%±2.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Berkshire and Lowell 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lowell School District |
| 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 |
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.