Compare towns
Barre vs White River Junction vs Rockingham 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 affordable homes ($210k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Rockingham has the most people working from home (17.9%).
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 | White River Junction | Rockingham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
3,364 |
4,807 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
46.4±2.6 8% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Rockingham 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Rockingham and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Rockingham 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$70,857±$16k 13% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
| Berlin and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$210,900±$14k 33% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 11% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Rockingham and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.7% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and White River Junction 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 | — | #65 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | Rockingham School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.