Compare towns
Berlin vs Barre vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Castleton has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
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 | Barre | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
8,412Highest |
4,453 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 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+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.