Compare towns
Barre vs Bennington vs White River Junction vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Bennington has the most kids (17.7% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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 | Barre | Bennington | White River Junction | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
15,249Highest |
3,364 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Bennington and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% VT: 43.8% |
36.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| White River Junction and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| White River Junction and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 3% above VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4% VT: 73.2% |
58.4% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
17 min 27% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Bennington 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.