Compare towns
Appleton vs Berlin vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Appleton | Berlin | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
2,880 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.