Compare towns
Waterbury vs Berlin vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Waterbury | Berlin | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
2,880 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Waterbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Berlin and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Worcester 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.