Compare towns
Berlin vs Montgomery vs Ripton
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Montgomery has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Montgomery | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,047 |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.5±11.3Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
| Montgomery 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% |
15.5%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.9%±8.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton 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% |
52.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$53,289±$24kLowest 34% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$323,200±$45k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Montgomery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$868±$209Lowest 30% below VT |
— |
| Berlin and Montgomery 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 |
$4,326Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
76.6%±68Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Montgomery and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
15.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
37 minHighest 58% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Montgomery 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.