Compare towns
Brandon vs Castleton vs Sudbury vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Sudbury has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Brandon | Castleton | Sudbury | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,120 |
4,453Highest |
679Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.9 5% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.2%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sudbury and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.8%±4.9 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$100,208±$33kHighest 23% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Sudbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,800±$23k 28% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$338,500±$49kHighest 7% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Sudbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171Highest 5% 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 | $4,241 16% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,205 17% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.3% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
95.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.2%±9.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Sudbury 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.