Compare towns
Barre vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon vs Berlin
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).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Enosburgh | Sheldon | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,804 |
2,267Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| 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%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh 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% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh 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±$7k 19% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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 |
$223,100±$39k 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$273,600±$31kHighest 14% below VT |
| Berlin and Sheldon 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 |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Sheldon and Berlin 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Enosburgh 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% |
13.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
32 minHighest 36% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | #26 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.