Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornish vs Cornwall 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Cornwall has the highest household income ($115k).
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 | Cornish | Cornwall | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,816 |
1,208Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall 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% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest 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% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 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±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornwall and Cornish 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. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% 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 | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montpelier and Cornwall 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Cornish School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.