Compare towns
Berlin vs Colrain vs Williamstown
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,627Lowest |
3,579Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest 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% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$80,673±$10kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Berlin 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. |
$1,102±$77Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$4,317 38% above U.S. |
$3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Colrain 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mohawk Trail | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.