Compare towns
Berlin vs Fairfield 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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Fairfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,938Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield 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% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest 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% |
30.2% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Fairfield 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 VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
| Barre and Fairfield 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 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 | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 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% |
7.8%±3Lowest 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 |
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.