Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Fair Haven vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most people working from home (11.7%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($167k 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 | Castleton | Fair Haven | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453Highest |
2,724 |
1,145Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7 11% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hampton 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%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest 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% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8k 9% below U.S. |
| 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 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| 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±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hampton 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.