Compare towns
Berlin vs Mendon vs Putney 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Barre has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Mendon | Putney | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,113Lowest |
2,622 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Mendon 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 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Putney 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 |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Putney 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Putney 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.