Compare towns
Berlin vs Wilder vs Worcester
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 kids (16.6% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,087Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Worcester 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 VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Berlin and Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Berlin and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Wilder 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% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Wilder 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 Our Story | 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.