Compare towns
Berlin vs Brandon 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).
Brandon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Barre has the most people working from home (13.7%).
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 | Brandon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
4,120 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
| Berlin and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Brandon 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 |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% 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 |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% 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 |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% 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 |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Berlin 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 | #69 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— |
| 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.