Compare towns
Berlin vs Jay vs Windham vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($95k).
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 | Jay | Windham | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
471Lowest |
594 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Jay and Berlin 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Windham 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Montpelier 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±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| Windham 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 14% below VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
| Montpelier and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Montpelier 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 | 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.