What stands out worked out from the figures below

Tompkins has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

Berlin has the most kids (16.6% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Tompkins	Berlin
People
Population	1,187Lowest	2,880Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	57.6±5.8Highest 48% above U.S.	50.6±2.4Lowest 30% above U.S.
	Tompkins and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	8.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	30.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	26.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Tompkins and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±2 U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,103±$27kLowest 24% below U.S.	$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S.
	Berlin and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$185,700±$23kLowest 44% below U.S.	$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$483±$80Lowest 66% below U.S.	$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,487Lowest 20% below U.S.	$4,418Highest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±73.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berlin and Tompkins are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	70 minHighest 166% above U.S.	21 minLowest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	23.5%±13.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Tompkins and Berlin 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.