Compare towns

Berlin vs Castleton vs Ira vs Windsor

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).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).

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.

MeasureBerlinCastletonIraWindsor
People
Population
2,880
4,453Highest
381Lowest
3,554
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
+0.2%Highest
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
44.8±6.5
4% above VT
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%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
10.5%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windsor and Castleton 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%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Ira 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%
VT: 43.8%
37.1%
VT: 43.8%
39.7%Highest
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%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
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
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% 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
$207,500±$31kLowest
34% 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
$1,026±$89
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
$4,146
18% below VT
$5,209Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.4%±100
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17Lowest
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%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.8%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
1945Lowest
31 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
23 min
3% below VT
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9
VT: 16.9%
2.3%±2.2Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5
VT: 16.9%
Berlin and Windsor 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 — #61 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 — —
High school in town None in town None in town — —
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.