Compare towns
Berlin vs Putney vs Westminster 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Putney | Westminster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,622 |
2,999Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Westminster and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Berlin and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Berlin and Worcester 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.