Compare towns
Berkshire vs Castleton vs Richford
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 kids (27.2% under 18).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Richford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Berkshire | Castleton | Richford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,745Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,467 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.6±6.9Lowest 27% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
39±3.6Highest 10% below VT |
| Richford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4 VT: 17.9% |
| Berkshire and Richford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.4%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Richford and Castleton 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% |
20.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.4%±3.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,406±$21k 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$56,853±$13kLowest 30% 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 |
$176,600±$16kLowest 44% 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±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,160±$66 6% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545Highest 30% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,300 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±52.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.1%±15.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
70.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.8%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Berkshire and Richford 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 | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Richford Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.