Compare towns
Berlin vs Colrain 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 highest household income ($87k).
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 | Colrain | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,627Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montpelier 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. 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±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% 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. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mohawk Trail | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school 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 |
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.