Compare towns
Berlin vs Windham 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Barre has the oldest housing (typical home built 1974).
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 | Windham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berlin and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.