Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Montpelier vs Pownal
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).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Middlesex | Montpelier | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
8,014Highest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
49±9.1 14% above VT |
| Berlin and Pownal 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$21k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.