Compare towns

Berlin vs Gorham 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).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
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.

MeasureBerlinGorhamBarre
People
Population
2,880
2,682Lowest
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4
30% above U.S.
53.9±3.6Highest
39% above U.S.
48.4±4.2Lowest
24% above U.S.
Gorham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
26.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Gorham 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%
20.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Gorham 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±$21k
7% above U.S.
$61,275±$7kLowest
24% below U.S.
$93,210±$9kHighest
15% above U.S.
Barre and Berlin 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.
$161,600±$49kLowest
51% 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±$171
17% below U.S.
$838±$83Lowest
41% below U.S.
$1,524±$399Highest
8% above U.S.
Barre and Berlin 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.
$4,334Lowest
39% above U.S.
$4,737Highest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41%±20.3Lowest
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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8
U.S.: 15.1%
1.7%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #57 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town None in town Gorham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.