Compare towns

Barre vs Tunbridge 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 highest household income ($93k).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
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.

MeasureBarreTunbridgeBerlin
People
Population
8,005Highest
1,253Lowest
2,880
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.4±4.2
12% above VT
42.7±8.3Lowest
about the VT average
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%
21.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Tunbridge 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
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
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%
VT: 43.8%
42.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Berlin and Tunbridge 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
$89,464±$26k
10% above VT
$86,691±$21kLowest
7% above VT
Barre and Tunbridge 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
$315,300±$23kHighest
about the VT average
$273,600±$31kLowest
14% below VT
Tunbridge and Barre 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
$1,346±$128
9% above VT
$1,169±$171Lowest
5% below VT
Barre and Tunbridge 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
$4,645
8% below VT
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge 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%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
4% below VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
Work from home
13.7%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge 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 First Branch Unified School District #82 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.