Compare towns
Barre vs Keene 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).
Keene has the most people working from home (15.6%).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Keene | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
22,939Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% 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%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%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% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Keene 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. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Keene 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Keene 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Keene School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.