Compare towns
Berlin vs Montpelier vs Worcester
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
8,014Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% 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 |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.