Compare towns

Berlin vs Rose 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Rose has the most affordable homes ($134k median).
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureBerlinRoseMontpelier
People
Population
2,880
2,126Lowest
8,014Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
38.8±6.8Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.3±2.4
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
26.8%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
66.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
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.
$76,200±$11kLowest
6% 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.
$133,800±$29kLowest
60% below U.S.
$375,100±$21kHighest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171Lowest
17% below U.S.
$1,430±$252Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,302±$113
8% below U.S.
Rose and Montpelier 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.
$2,434Lowest
22% below U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
31.6%±31.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montpelier 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
53.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
20% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
18 minLowest
31% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
5.3%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #16 of 70 in VT — #9 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 NORTH ROSE-WOLCOTT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71
High school in town None in town NORTH ROSE-WOLCOTT HIGH SCHOOL Montpelier High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.8Lowest
10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.