Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield vs Worcester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
1,122 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Springfield 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±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Springfield 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Springfield 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.