Compare towns
Berlin vs Dummerston vs Castleton vs Barre
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Dummerston | Castleton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,090Lowest |
4,453 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Dummerston and Barre 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Dummerston 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Barre 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 | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.