Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Eliot vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Barre has the most homeowners (88.4%).
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 | Eliot | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
4,453 |
7,146 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Berlin 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #19 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.