Compare towns
Castleton vs Williamstown vs Berlin
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 renters (21% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Williamstown | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,579 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42±5 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Williamstown 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 |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Williamstown 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Castleton 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.