Compare towns
Berlin vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | Hampton Beach | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,605Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest 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. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Hampton Beach 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. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%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. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.