Compare towns
Barre vs Berlin vs Waitsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
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 | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,880 |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT 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 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield and Berlin 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
| Barre and Berlin 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
| Barre and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 6% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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.