Compare towns

Berlin vs Olean vs Danville vs Montpelier

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the highest household income ($87k).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Danville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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.

MeasureBerlinOleanDanvilleMontpelier
People
Population
2,880
13,738Highest
2,360Lowest
8,014
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
39±2.6Lowest
about the U.S. average
53.1±6Highest
37% above U.S.
42.3±2.4
9% above U.S.
Danville 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
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Olean and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.7%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Danville 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
U.S.: 35.7%
29.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$51,261±$7kLowest
37% below U.S.
$70,946±$7k
12% below U.S.
$81,030±$6k
about the U.S. average
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
18% below U.S.
$86,100±$6kLowest
74% below U.S.
$275,800±$43k
17% below U.S.
$375,100±$21kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$794±$52Lowest
44% below U.S.
—
$1,302±$113Highest
8% below U.S.
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
42% above U.S.
$3,130Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,358
40% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
52%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
9.5%±11.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Olean and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
26.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
20% below U.S.
14 minLowest
45% below U.S.
33 minHighest
23% above U.S.
18 min
31% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.7%±9.5
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Montpelier and Danville 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 #337 of 484 in NY — #9 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT — Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71
High school in town None in town OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL — Montpelier High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2Highest
—
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.