Compare towns

Berlin vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).

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.

MeasureBerlinHooksettMontpelier
People
Population
2,880Lowest
15,057Highest
8,014
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.3±2.4
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Montpelier and Hooksett 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%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$81,030±$6kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hooksett 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±$31kLowest
18% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$375,100±$21k
13% above U.S.
Hooksett and Montpelier 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.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,302±$113
8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montpelier and Hooksett 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%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
20% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 70 in VT #30 of 120 in NH #9 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Hooksett School District 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

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.