Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Berlin | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,880 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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 | $93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Barre and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Barre 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.