Compare towns

Barre vs Berlin vs Dummerston vs Epping

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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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.

MeasureBarreBerlinDummerstonEpping
People
Population
8,412Highest
2,880
2,090Lowest
7,430
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
45.1±3.5
16% above U.S.
Berlin and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Epping 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%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Berlin and Dummerston 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%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Epping 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.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$104,220±$7kHighest
29% above U.S.
Epping and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$436,900±$35kHighest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
Epping and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192
66% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% 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%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Epping 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 — #77 of 120 in NH
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Epping School District
High school in town Spaulding Union High School None in town None in town Epping High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
— —
9.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.