Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornish vs Sheldon 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
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Sheldon | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,816Lowest |
2,267 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest 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. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest 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% |
2%±1.3 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±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% 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±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
| Montpelier and Sheldon 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. |
$5,796 86% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% 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%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Montpelier and Berlin 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% 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% |
13%±3.7 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 | Cornish School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.