Compare towns
Worcester vs Berlin vs Townshend vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Townshend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% 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.
| Measure | Worcester | Berlin | Townshend | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,538 |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
45±3.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Townshend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Elmore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,364Highest 6% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.