Compare towns
Berlin vs Highgate vs Proctor 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Highgate | Proctor | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
3,528 |
1,794Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
42.4±6.4Lowest 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%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin and Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Proctor 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±$14k about the VT average |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
| 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 14% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% 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 | $4,418 12% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 10% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.