Compare towns
Berlin vs Castleton vs Cornish 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
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Castleton | Cornish | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
4,453 |
1,816Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Cornish 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 18% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Montpelier and Cornish 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. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Montpelier and Cornish 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Cornish School District | 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.