Compare towns
Berlin vs Calais vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Calais | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,713 |
980Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Berlin 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.2%±0.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bridgewater 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% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
| Calais and Berlin 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.7%±39.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Bridgewater and Calais 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| 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.