Compare towns

Berlin vs Randolph 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).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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.

MeasureBerlinRandolphBarre
People
Population
2,880Lowest
4,843
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.1%
VT: +2.8%
0%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
40.4±7.4Lowest
6% below 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%
17.3%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Randolph 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
VT: 21.4%
22.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Berlin and Randolph 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%
40.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
VT: 7%
11.2%±2.5Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.2Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,691±$21k
7% above VT
$76,758±$6kLowest
5% below VT
$93,210±$9kHighest
15% above VT
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
14% below VT
$278,700±$38k
12% below VT
$281,400±$13kHighest
11% below VT
Barre and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171Lowest
5% below VT
$1,172±$173
5% below VT
$1,524±$399Highest
24% above VT
Barre and Randolph 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
$4,698
7% below VT
$4,737Highest
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.1%±17.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
Randolph 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%
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
67.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
10% below VT
21 minLowest
12% below VT
23 minHighest
4% below VT
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.9%±4.7
VT: 16.9%
13.7%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barre and Randolph 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 #55 of 70 in VT #19 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town None in town Randolph Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.4
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.