Compare towns

Barre vs Newport 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).
Newport has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.3%).

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.

MeasureBarreNewportBerlin
People
Population
8,412Highest
4,394
2,880Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.9%
VT: +2.8%
-1.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
46.4±4.3
8% above VT
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
Berlin and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.8
VT: 17.9%
13.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±4.7
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Berlin and Newport 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%
25.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
28.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Berlin and Barre 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
$54,646±$12kLowest
33% below VT
$86,691±$21kHighest
7% above VT
Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15k
34% below VT
$179,400±$11kLowest
43% below VT
$273,600±$31kHighest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58
11% below VT
$850±$49Lowest
31% below VT
$1,169±$171Highest
5% below VT
Berlin and Barre 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
$4,036Lowest
20% below VT
$4,418
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
48.2%±15.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
Newport and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
VT: 10.1%
23%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
57.6%
VT: 73.2%
87.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1966
10 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
21% below VT
15 minLowest
38% below VT
21 minHighest
10% below VT
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.8%±8.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8
VT: 16.9%
Newport 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 #63 of 70 in VT #16 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Spaulding Union High School North Country Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
10.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.