Compare towns
Berlin vs Exeter vs Worcester 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Exeter | Worcester | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
16,151Highest |
831Lowest |
8,014 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Worcester 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montpelier and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Exeter 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than 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. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montpelier and Worcester 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.