Compare towns
Washington vs Berlin vs Becket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Washington | Berlin | Becket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,962 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
49.6±4.7Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Washington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
| Washington and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Becket and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$4,418Highest 42% above U.S. |
$3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Becket and Washington 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 | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.