Compare towns
Berlin vs Salem 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 most homeowners (87.9%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Salem | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,611Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Salem 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. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montpelier and Salem 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 | #376 of 484 in NY | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5Lowest |
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.