Compare towns

Berlin vs Cornish 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).
Cornish has the most expensive homes ($296k 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.

MeasureBerlinCornishWilliamstown
People
Population
2,880
1,816Lowest
3,579Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
42±5Lowest
8% 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%
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%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17%±3.9Lowest
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%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%
1.4%±0.9Lowest
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±$21kLowest
7% above U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$94,418±$10kHighest
17% above U.S.
Williamstown 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±$31k
18% below U.S.
$296,000±$69kHighest
11% below U.S.
$234,900±$24kLowest
29% below U.S.
Cornish and Berlin 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.
$1,659±$189Highest
17% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418
42% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$3,841Lowest
23% 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%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williamstown 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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
23 min
12% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williamstown and Cornish 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 Cornish School District 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.