Compare towns

Calais vs Barnard vs Berlin

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

MeasureCalaisBarnardBerlin
People
Population
1,713
1,211Lowest
2,880Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
42.4±6
about the VT average
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
Berlin and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Berlin and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
55.3%
VT: 43.8%
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9
VT: 7%
Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$97,581±$19k
20% above VT
$86,691±$21kLowest
7% above VT
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$273,600±$31kLowest
14% below VT
Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,372±$80
11% above VT
$1,169±$171Lowest
5% below VT
Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$6,038
20% above VT
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
29 min
21% above VT
21 minLowest
10% below VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Calais and Barnard 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
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None 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.