Compare towns
Appleton vs Mapleton vs Berlin vs Liberty
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Liberty has the most people working from home (14.4%).
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 | Mapleton | Berlin | Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,884 |
2,880Highest |
969Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
40.5±6.8Lowest 4% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Liberty 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±2.8 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$71,146±$15k 12% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$229,600±$31k 31% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$610±$277 57% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$559±$193Lowest 60% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$2,434 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.5%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Berlin 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% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Liberty 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 03/MSAD 03 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.