Compare towns
Berlin vs Middlesex vs Williston 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).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Middlesex | Williston | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,943Lowest |
10,144Highest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
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%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,524±$399 24% above VT |
| Williston and Barre 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.