Compare towns
Berlin vs Mendon vs Highgate
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 kids (16.6% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Highgate has the youngest population (median age 44).
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 | Mendon | Highgate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,113Lowest |
3,528Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Highgate 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
| Mendon 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 14% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Berlin 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.