Compare towns
Berlin vs Montpelier vs Northfield
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).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
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 | Montpelier | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
8,014Highest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Berlin 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% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Berlin and Montpelier 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 |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Montpelier 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #16 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.