Compare towns
Berlin vs Cornwall vs Brookline 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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
Barre has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Cornwall | Brookline | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,208 |
531Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Berlin and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brookline and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Cornwall 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 |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
| Brookline and Barre 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 |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Brookline 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Brookline 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 | 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.