Compare towns
Barre vs Durham vs Berlin
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 affordable homes ($210k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
15,080Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% 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%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Durham 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 37% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Durham and Berlin 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Oyster River Coop School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.