Compare towns
Berlin vs West Bath 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 most affordable homes ($274k median).
West Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 48.4).
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 | West Bath | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880 |
1,863Lowest |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 30% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| West Bath and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Bath 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% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| West Bath 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. |
$103,333±$27kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| West Bath 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. |
$422,800±$102kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and Berlin 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. |
$3,516Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and West Bath 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Bath 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West Bath Public Schools | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.