What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (-9%).

Wethersfield has the highest household income ($96k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barre	Wethersfield
People
Population	1,910Highest	815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-14.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.2±6.7Lowest 14% above NY	46±4.4Highest 16% above NY
	Wethersfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±4.8Highest NY: 20.5%	21.6%±4.3Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Barre and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.8Highest NY: 17.9%	13.1%±2.5Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13%Lowest NY: 40.2%	20.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	4.2%±3.8Highest NY: 7%
	Wethersfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,906±$14kLowest 14% below NY	$96,094±$14kHighest 12% above NY
	Wethersfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$135,900±$28kHighest 68% below NY	$131,300±$20kLowest 69% below NY
	Barre and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,158±$208Highest 29% below NY	$916±$126Lowest 43% below NY
	Barre and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,466Highest 47% below NY	$2,787Lowest 58% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.7%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1%	30.2%±38.9Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Barre and Wethersfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.4%Highest NY: 14%	9%Lowest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest NY: 54.3%	80.1%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 36% below NY	28 minHighest 13% below NY
Work from home	6.5%±2.8Lowest NY: 14.9%	6.8%±3.4Highest NY: 14.9%
	Wethersfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.