Compare towns
Castleton vs Berlin vs Benson vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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 | Castleton | Berlin | Benson | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,880 |
784Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
41.3±2.8 4% below VT |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
8.1%±4.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$90,060±$19kHighest 11% above VT |
| St. Albans and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$363,300±$22kHighest 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,460±$152Highest 18% above VT |
| St. Albans and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,689Highest 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.6%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.7%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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 | None yet |
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