Compare towns
Northfield vs Peacham vs Castleton vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Northfield | Peacham | Castleton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
887Lowest |
4,453 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
50.1±5.7 16% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Peacham and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Peacham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$302,000±$64kHighest 5% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Peacham and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Peacham 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% |
10.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Peacham School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — | — |
| 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.