Compare towns
Berlin vs Clarendon vs Montpelier
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 highest household income ($87k).
Clarendon has the most affordable homes ($221k 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Clarendon | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,460Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Clarendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Clarendon 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
25.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT 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 14% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,096±$305Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
| 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 12% below VT |
$3,740Lowest 26% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Clarendon and Montpelier 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mill River Union High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.