Compare towns
Augusta vs Barre vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Augusta has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.2%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Manchester has the most homeowners (85%).
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 | Augusta | Barre | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 19,077Highest |
8,412 |
2,424Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±2.4 9% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.9±4.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester and Augusta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Augusta and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,979±$3kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$92,031±$16kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,000±$18kLowest 40% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
$299,600±$40kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $919±$79Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S. |
$993±$116 30% below U.S. |
| Barre and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,465Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,486 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.2%±8.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.9%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Augusta and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Augusta and Manchester 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 | #119 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Augusta Public Schools · Maine Arts Academy | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Cony | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.