Compare towns
Berlin vs Brookline 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 the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Brookline | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
531Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest 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% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.