Compare towns

Barre vs Hampton vs Brattleboro 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).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($545k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).

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.

MeasureBarreHamptonBrattleboroBerlin
People
Population
8,412
10,101
12,122Highest
2,880Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
51.2±1.7Highest
32% above U.S.
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
Hampton and Berlin 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%
14.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Brattleboro and Berlin 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%
26.9%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
26.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%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%
3.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brattleboro 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 U.S.
$97,163±$4kHighest
20% above U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$86,691±$21k
7% above U.S.
Hampton 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.
$545,300±$63kHighest
64% above U.S.
$257,300±$18k
23% below U.S.
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58
23% below U.S.
$1,654±$93Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192
66% above U.S.
$6,872Highest
120% above U.S.
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±13.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 min
28% below U.S.
21 min
20% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton and Brattleboro 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 #31 of 120 in NH #33 of 70 in VT #16 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Spaulding Union High School — Brattleboro Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
—
9.0Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 6 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.