Compare towns

Berlin vs Williamson 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).
Williamson has the most affordable homes ($193k 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.

MeasureBerlinWilliamsonBarre
People
Population
2,880Lowest
6,823
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
30% above U.S.
40.9±4.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
48.4±4.2
24% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williamson 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
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Williamson 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.
$90,515±$14k
12% above U.S.
$93,210±$9kHighest
15% above U.S.
Barre and Williamson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,600±$31k
18% below U.S.
$192,700±$18kLowest
42% below U.S.
$281,400±$13kHighest
15% below U.S.
Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
17% below U.S.
$659±$304Lowest
53% 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
$4,418Lowest
42% above U.S.
$5,172Highest
66% above U.S.
$4,737
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9
U.S.: 51.1%
25.1%±12.5Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.2%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Williamson 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 #221 of 484 in NY #19 of 70 in VT
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 WILLIAMSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town None in town WILLIAMSON SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.3
—
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.