Compare towns
Berlin vs Bethel vs Wheelock
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%).
Bethel has the most renters (16.4% rent).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Bethel | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,736 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Lowest 17% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Wheelock 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 |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Berlin and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Berlin and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
— |
| Bethel and Berlin 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 |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bethel and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.