Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Berlin | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,880Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow 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±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 66% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.