Compare towns

Berlin vs Plainfield vs Barre vs Moretown

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).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Barre has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Moretown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).

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.

MeasureBerlinPlainfieldBarreMoretown
People
Population
2,880
2,522
8,005Highest
1,532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.4±4.2
24% above U.S.
46.8±3.8
20% 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%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield and Moretown 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%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18%±2.4Lowest
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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±$21kLowest
7% above U.S.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$93,210±$9k
15% above U.S.
$104,423±$7k
29% above U.S.
Plainfield and Moretown 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.
$442,400±$47kHighest
33% above U.S.
$281,400±$13k
15% below U.S.
$380,800±$36k
14% above U.S.
Plainfield and Moretown 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.
$1,674±$181Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,524±$399
8% above U.S.
$838±$462Lowest
41% below U.S.
Plainfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$4,737
52% above U.S.
$5,506
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±20.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
16.1%±14.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
25 minHighest
5% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Moretown and Plainfield 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 #19 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Plainfield School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 Harwood Unified Union School District #60
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

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.