Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Fairfield vs Proctor
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 people working from home (11.7%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Fairfield | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453Highest |
1,938 |
1,794Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Proctor 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Proctor 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Fairfield and Berlin 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±$71k 29% below VT |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Fairfield 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 |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% 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 | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berlin 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin and Proctor 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.7 |
| 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.