Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Townshend vs Clarendon
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).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Townshend | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453Highest |
1,538Lowest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
52.3±4.1 21% above VT |
| Townshend and Clarendon 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Clarendon 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,096±$305 11% 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 |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Castleton 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1Lowest |
9.4Highest |
| 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.