Compare towns
Castleton vs Berlin vs Cornish vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Cornish | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,880 |
1,816 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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 32% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornish 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 | Cornish School District | — |
| 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 |
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.