Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Salisbury
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).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Reading | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
699Lowest |
1,200 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Lowest 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
50.6±6.5Lowest 17% above VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Salisbury and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$306,900±$51k 3% below VT |
| Reading and Salisbury 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Berlin 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 | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.