Compare towns
Castleton vs Ferrisburgh vs Berlin vs Ira
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).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k 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 | Ferrisburgh | Berlin | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,661 |
2,880 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
| Ira and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Ferrisburgh 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% |
23.3%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
51.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.3% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 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 |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ferrisburgh 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 | #7 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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 |
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.