Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornish vs Sheldon 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Cornish | Sheldon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,816Lowest |
2,267 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Barre and Cornish 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. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Barre 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. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Berlin 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Sheldon 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 | Cornish School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.