Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Ira vs Springfield
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Ira | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453 |
381Lowest |
9,084Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Ira 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| Berlin and Ira 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$963±$100 22% 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 |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Springfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| 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.