Compare towns
Barre vs White River Junction vs St. Johnsbury vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
St. Johnsbury has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | St. Johnsbury | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
3,364 |
7,368 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% 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 |
42.8±3.8 about the VT average |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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% |
21.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and St. Johnsbury 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% |
30.3% 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% |
5.6%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| St. Johnsbury 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±$7k 19% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$57,738±$9kLowest 29% 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±$15k 34% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$177,700±$17kLowest 44% 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 |
$914±$44Lowest 26% 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 |
$3,916Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
48%±11Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| St. Johnsbury 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% |
16.8% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.6% 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 |
1944Lowest 32 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 17% below VT |
21 minHighest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
| St. Johnsbury 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 | — | #60 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | — | 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.