Compare towns
Berlin vs Worcester vs Brookline
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Worcester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Highest |
831 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Berlin 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brookline 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
| Berlin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT |
| Brookline and Berlin 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Brookline 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.