Compare towns
Bernardston vs Castleton vs Gill
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bernardston has the oldest population (median age 49).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Gill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Bernardston | Castleton | Gill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,164 |
4,453Highest |
1,740Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49±3.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
| Bernardston and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±8.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Gill and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bernardston and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,940±$10k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$90,208±$14kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Gill and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,000±$15k about the U.S. average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$340,100±$17kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Gill and Bernardston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,283±$553Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,193±$246 16% below U.S. |
| Bernardston and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,516Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,318 38% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.7%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Gill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.7%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gill and Bernardston 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Pioneer Valley | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Gill-Montague |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.