Compare towns

Berlin vs Cabot 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).
Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

MeasureBerlinCabotBarre
People
Population
2,880
1,579Lowest
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
0%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
40.3±6.6Lowest
6% below VT
48.4±4.2
12% 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%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
27.2%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
21%±6.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±3.5
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+
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
44.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
2.2%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.2
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
$86,691±$21k
7% above VT
$77,031±$16kLowest
5% 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
$268,500±$77kLowest
15% 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±$171Lowest
5% below VT
$1,243±$354
about the VT average
$1,524±$399Highest
24% above VT
Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
$4,639
8% below VT
$4,737Highest
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±26.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
Cabot 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%
9%
VT: 10.1%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
83.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1974Lowest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
10% below VT
30 minHighest
27% above VT
23 min
4% below VT
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.4%±4.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.7%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
Cabot 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 — Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school 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.