Compare towns
Castleton vs Berlin vs Brookline
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,880 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Brookline 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 |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brookline 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% |
6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookline 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 | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.