Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornwall vs Exeter 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).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Cornwall | Exeter | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,208Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 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%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Cornwall 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Montpelier 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. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornwall and Exeter 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. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter 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. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Exeter 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.