Compare towns
Berlin vs Sunapee vs Barre
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Sunapee has the most expensive homes ($393k median).
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.
| Measure | Berlin | Sunapee | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
3,416 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sunapee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Sunapee 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 18% below U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
| Sunapee and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Berlin 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Sunapee School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.