Compare towns
Berlin vs White River Junction 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | White River Junction | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
3,364 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 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 |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
| Barre and White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.