Compare towns
Berlin vs Franklin vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Franklin | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,590Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the VT average |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Franklin 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school 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 |
VT 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.