Compare towns
Proctor vs Castleton vs Berlin vs Irasburg
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Castleton has the most renters (21% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (11.7%).
Irasburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Proctor | Castleton | Berlin | Irasburg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,794 |
4,453Highest |
2,880 |
1,384Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
40.3±5.3 6% below VT |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.4%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Irasburg and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
23.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$98,534±$13kHighest 21% above VT |
| Irasburg and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$230,800±$22k 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Irasburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,063±$86 14% 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 | $4,032 20% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,966 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
17%±28.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
24 minHighest 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.7%±2.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Berlin and Proctor 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.