Compare towns
Barre vs Jay vs Middlesex 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
471Lowest |
1,943 |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
| Jay 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
| 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Berlin and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 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.