Compare towns
Williamstown vs Berlin vs Castleton vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Williamstown | Berlin | Castleton | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,579 |
2,880Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest 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+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
| Highgate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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 | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 9.8Highest |
| 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.