Compare towns
Montpelier vs Randolph vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Randolph has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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 | Montpelier | Randolph | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
4,843 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
| Montpelier and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.4Lowest |
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| 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.