Compare towns
Berlin vs Freeport 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).
Freeport has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.9%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Freeport | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
8,802Highest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport 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% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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 18% below U.S. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Freeport 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. |
$5,042Highest 62% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than 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 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | RSU 05 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.