Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Middlesex vs Putney
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 the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Berlin 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% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Middlesex 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% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.