Compare towns
Berlin vs Strafford 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).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | Strafford | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,372Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Strafford and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Montpelier 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Montpelier 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% 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 | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,936 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford and Montpelier 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer 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 |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Strafford School District | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
| 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.