Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Swanton
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
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 | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453Highest |
2,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$66,607±$27kLowest 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±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
| Berlin and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
| Swanton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,370 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 minHighest 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin and Swanton 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.