Compare towns
Berlin vs Montpelier vs Williston
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).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
8,014 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Berlin and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston 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 |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school 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 |
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.