Compare towns
Barton vs Berlin vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Barton | Berlin | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
2,880Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
28.5% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.