Compare towns
Berlin vs Unity vs Worcester 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
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Unity | Worcester | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,375 |
831Lowest |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
42.3±2.4Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 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%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Berlin 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% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% 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%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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 U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Unity 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. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$375,100±$21kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,302±$113 8% below U.S. |
| Unity and Montpelier 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. |
$5,394 73% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Montpelier and Worcester 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Unity School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 4 photos → | 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.