Compare towns
Worcester vs Braintree vs Berlin
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%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
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 | Braintree | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,026 |
2,880Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Lowest 9% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 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 |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
| Berlin and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Highest 12% below VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Braintree and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
81%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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 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.