Compare towns
Berlin vs Clay vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Clay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Clay | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
59,995Highest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
39.8±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Clay 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Clay 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±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$90,707±$6k 12% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Barre and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$205,900±$6kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$281,400±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| 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 17% below U.S. |
$1,240±$40 12% below U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Clay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,087Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Clay 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±1.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Clay 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 | #249 of 484 in NY | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | LIVERPOOL CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · NORTH SYRACUSE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | LIVERPOOL HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.