Compare towns
Worcester vs Berlin vs Westford
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 people working from home (23.6%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Westford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
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 | Worcester | Berlin | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,880Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westford 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Worcester 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 |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Westford 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Westford 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.