Compare towns
Berlin vs Springfield vs Williamstown
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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Springfield has the most renters (32.3% rent).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
9,084Highest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3% VT: 43.8% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
| Williamstown 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±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
| Berlin and Williamstown 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,807Highest 5% below VT |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Williamstown 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.