Compare towns
Berlin vs Highgate vs Barre vs Middlesex
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).
Highgate has the most renters (19.3% rent).
Barre has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Highgate | Barre | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,528 |
8,005Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Barre and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.