Compare towns
Berlin vs Lancaster 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 oldest population (median age 50.6).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.5%).
Barre has the most people working from home (13.7%).
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 | Lancaster | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,230Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
38.6±8.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.1%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster 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% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Barre 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% |
23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Lancaster 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. |
$66,765±$20kLowest 17% 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. |
$200,500±$24kLowest 40% 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. |
$1,036±$221Lowest 27% 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. |
$4,225Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #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.