Compare towns
Berlin vs Montpelier vs Wheelock
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 highest household income ($87k).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Montpelier | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
8,014Highest |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock 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% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% 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±$31k 14% below VT |
$375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
— |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Montpelier 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% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Wheelock 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 | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.