Compare towns

Berwick vs Castleton vs Franklin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most expensive homes ($323k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

MeasureBerwickCastletonFranklin
People
Population
1,998
4,453Highest
1,628Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.6±3.6
10% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
46±9.3Highest
18% above U.S.
Franklin and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.9%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
25.6%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Franklin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$39kHighest
about the U.S. average
$73,854±$23k
9% below U.S.
$65,455±$16kLowest
19% below U.S.
Berwick and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$323,300±$36kHighest
about the U.S. average
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$245,800±$59k
26% below U.S.
Berwick and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,041±$901
26% below U.S.
$1,137±$195Highest
20% below U.S.
$888±$306Lowest
37% below U.S.
Castleton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,806Highest
22% above U.S.
$3,167
about the U.S. average
$2,231Lowest
28% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.9%±45.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
36.7%±27.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
76.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±7.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±5.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Franklin 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 #101 of 133 in ME #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 —
High school 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.