Compare towns
Berlin vs Northfield vs Ripton vs Montpelier
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).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Northfield | Ripton | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
5,920 |
508Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Ripton 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% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Highest 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Ripton and Northfield 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 |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Ripton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% 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 | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Ripton 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.