Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Plainfield
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 homeowners (88.4%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,880 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Barre 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7%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% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Berlin 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. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Barre 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. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Plainfield School District |
| 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 |
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.