Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Danville vs Brandon
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 highest household income ($87k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Danville has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Brandon has the most kids (19.2% 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 | Castleton | Danville | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453Highest |
2,360Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Danville and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Danville 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Danville 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$70,946±$7k 13% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% 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±$31k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$275,800±$43kHighest 13% below VT |
$227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
| Danville and Berlin 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,358 14% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Danville 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.