Compare towns
Berlin vs Bowdoin vs Mapleton 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Berlin | Bowdoin | Mapleton | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,188 |
1,884Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13k 13% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Montpelier and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
— | $610±$277Lowest 57% 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. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montpelier and Berlin 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% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #28 of 133 in ME | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.