Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Busti
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 most expensive homes ($274k median).
Busti has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
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 | Barre | Berlin | Busti |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,880Lowest |
7,452 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.6±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Busti 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% |
19.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Busti and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Barre 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±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$67,292±$9k 17% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$164,600±$12kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,085±$106Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,876Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Busti and Berlin 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Barre 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.