Compare towns
Northfield vs Barre vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Northfield | Barre | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
8,005Highest |
2,880Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% 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 | 14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest 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+ | 34.6% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$86,691±$21k 7% 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 | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
| Barre and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
| Barre and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 16% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT | #16 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.