Compare towns

Berlin 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

Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureBerlinBerlinMontpelier
People
Population
2,880Lowest
9,383Highest
8,014
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
44.6±2.8
15% above U.S.
42.3±2.4Lowest
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2.8
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+
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
14.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.1Lowest
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
$86,691±$21kHighest
7% above U.S.
$45,180±$5kLowest
44% below 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
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$131,000±$15kLowest
61% below U.S.
$375,100±$21kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$815±$141Lowest
42% 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
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$3,437Lowest
10% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±12Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
20% below U.S.
19 min
29% below U.S.
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
3.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 70 in VT #108 of 120 in NH #9 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Berlin School District Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71
High school in town None in town Berlin Senior High School Montpelier High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.2Lowest
10.4Highest
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.