Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
4,453 |
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±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest 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%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest 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 |
$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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
| 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±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$963±$100Lowest 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 |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% 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 |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 |
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.