Compare towns
Berlin vs Milton 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).
Milton has the highest household income ($94k).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Milton | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
4,538 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Montpelier 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Milton 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Milton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montpelier and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.