Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (12.9%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Berlin | Castleton | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,960 |
4,453Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±5.3 6% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,313±$25kHighest about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $214,600±$22kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Ira and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,160±$309Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,518 13% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,146Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.7%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Castleton 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 | BERLIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | BERLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL/HIGH SCHOOL | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.