Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs Middlesex 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 renters (49.6% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Epping | Middlesex | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
7,430 |
1,943Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Epping 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% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Epping and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Epping and Middlesex 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Epping School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.