Compare towns
Montpelier vs Union vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Montpelier | Union | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
2,663Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4 9% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Montpelier and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6k about the U.S. average |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| 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 13% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 8% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Montpelier and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 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 | 6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | 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 |
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.