Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Upton vs Orange
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
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 | Upton | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005 |
2,880 |
8,189Highest |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Lowest 19% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
| Barre and Orange 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$3,545Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.