Compare towns
Castleton vs Berlin vs Waitsfield
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).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,880 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.3±5.3 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Waitsfield 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$84,375±$34k 4% above VT |
| Berlin and Waitsfield 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
| Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Waitsfield 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.