Compare towns
Berlin vs Ripton vs Vernon 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Vernon has the most renters (23.8% rent).
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 | Ripton | Vernon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
508Lowest |
2,709 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,682±$9kLowest 6% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$285,100±$25k 10% below VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 5% below VT |
— | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Berlin 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Vernon School District | 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 History | 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.