Compare towns
Montpelier vs Reading vs Ripton 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 the most renters (46.9% rent).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Ripton and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Montpelier and Berlin 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier and Reading 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.