Compare towns
Barre vs Stowe 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 the most homeowners (88.4%).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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 | Stowe | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
5,285 |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
| 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
| Barre and Stowe 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.