Compare towns
Barre vs Springfield vs Unity 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).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Springfield | Unity | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
9,084Highest |
1,375Lowest |
2,880 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7 11% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$66,571±$13k 18% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
| Unity 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±$15k 37% below U.S. |
$192,400±$20kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
| Unity and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$963±$100Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
| Unity 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
14.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield 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 | #64 of 70 in VT | — | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Unity School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— | — |
| 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.