Compare towns
Berlin vs Reading vs Williston vs Danville
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 homeowners (87.9%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Danville has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
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 | Williston | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
699Lowest |
10,144Highest |
2,360 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+6.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.1±6Highest 23% above VT |
| Danville and Reading 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Danville 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.7%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$21k 7% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$70,946±$7kLowest 13% below VT |
| Williston 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±$72k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$275,800±$43k 13% below VT |
| Williston and Reading 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,358Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
9.5%±11.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±9.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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 | 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.