Compare towns
Berlin vs Jay vs Williamstown vs Clarendon
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 most expensive homes ($274k median).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Williamstown has the youngest population (median age 42).
Clarendon has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Jay | Williamstown | Clarendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
471Lowest |
3,579Highest |
2,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
52.3±4.1Highest 21% above VT |
| Clarendon and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Clarendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Clarendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.1%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$21k 7% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$59,609±$12kLowest 27% below VT |
| Williamstown 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$220,900±$32kLowest 30% below VT |
| Berlin and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
— | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,096±$305Lowest 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Highest 12% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,740 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±27.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Clarendon 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
9.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Williamstown 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Mill River Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Highest |
9.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.