Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Hardwick
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 renters (49.6% rent).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Hardwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,880Lowest |
2,965 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
| Berlin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hardwick and Berlin 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
| Hardwick and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,169±$171Highest 5% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
| 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 3% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Hardwick 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 VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Hardwick and Berlin 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 | #68 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Hazen Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| 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.