Compare towns

Westminster vs Reading vs Berlin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($377k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureWestminsterReadingBerlin
People
Population
497Lowest
699
2,880Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.3±11.5Lowest
about the VT average
51.1±7.6Highest
19% 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
28.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Westminster and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±11.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.4%
VT: 43.8%
46%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.2%±3.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,000±$22kLowest
about the VT average
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$86,691±$21kHighest
7% above VT
Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$313,600±$39k
about the VT average
$377,200±$72kHighest
19% above VT
$273,600±$31kLowest
14% below VT
Reading and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$749±$315Lowest
39% below VT
$1,100±$331
11% below VT
$1,169±$171Highest
5% below VT
Berlin and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,480
11% below VT
$5,754Highest
14% above VT
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
6.1%±43.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±31.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
Reading and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1969
7 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
26% above VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
Work from home
23.1%±15.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster 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 #53 of 70 in VT — #16 of 70 in VT
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.