Compare towns
Berlin vs Bennington vs Highgate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
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 | Berlin | Bennington | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
15,249Highest |
3,528 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% 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 | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,513Highest 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Bennington and Highgate 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.