Compare towns
Berlin vs Lee 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($353k 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.
| Measure | Berlin | Lee | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
5,719 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Lee 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee 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. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above 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±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Lee 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lee | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.