Compare towns
Castleton vs Berwick vs Hermon 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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
Hermon has the most renters (24.8% rent).
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 | Berwick | Hermon | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
8,175Highest |
6,727 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+19.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
41.1±4.7 6% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$96,629±$22kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Hermon and Berwick 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. |
$369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$333,600±$32k about the U.S. average |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Hermon 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. |
$1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,406±$202 about the U.S. average |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Hermon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167 about the U.S. average |
$4,436Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,761Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.2%±19.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Berwick 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
2000Highest 20 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Hermon 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #54 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Hermon Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hermon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.6 |
— |
| 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.