Compare towns
Barre vs Ripton vs Berlin vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Ripton | Berlin | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005 |
508Lowest |
2,880 |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest 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%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Ripton 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 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% 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 | $4,737 6% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.