Compare towns
Barre vs Chester vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Chester | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
2,992 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| Berlin and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Chester 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±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% 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±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Barre and Berlin 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 |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.