Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Mapleton vs Middlesex
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,880 |
1,884Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mapleton 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 U.S. |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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 15% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Barre and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 52% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.