Compare towns
Williamstown vs Highgate vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
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 | Williamstown | Highgate | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Highest |
3,528 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±5Lowest about the VT average |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841 24% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,418Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | #43 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
9.8Highest |
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| 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.