Compare towns
Berlin vs Benson vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Berlin | Benson | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
784Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% 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 | $273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% 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 | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None 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.