Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Westminster 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Ripton | Westminster | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
508Lowest |
2,999 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Montpelier 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below 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 |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% 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 | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Westminster 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Montpelier 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.