Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon vs Castleton vs Jay
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most expensive homes ($274k median).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% under 18).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Jay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,120 |
4,453Highest |
471Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
| Jay and Berlin 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% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Castleton 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% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
| Berlin and Jay 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 |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
| Berlin and Jay 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 |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% 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 | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Berlin 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| 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.