Compare towns

Barre vs Barre vs St. Johnsbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
St. Johnsbury has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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.

MeasureBarreBarreSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
8,412Highest
5,572Lowest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
43.8±8.5Highest
13% above U.S.
42.8±3.8
10% above U.S.
Barre and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.8%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
21%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Johnsbury and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
St. Johnsbury and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
St. Johnsbury and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
$107,727±$13kHighest
33% above U.S.
$57,738±$9kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15k
37% below U.S.
$394,300±$55kHighest
19% above U.S.
$177,700±$17kLowest
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Highest
23% below U.S.
$1,030±$713
27% below U.S.
$914±$44Lowest
35% below U.S.
Barre and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192Highest
66% above U.S.
$5,163
66% above U.S.
$3,916Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.2%±27.5
U.S.: 51.1%
48%±11Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Johnsbury and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
36 minHighest
37% above U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.2%±4.6
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. Johnsbury 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 #19 of 70 in VT #134 of 282 in MA #60 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Quabbin —
High school in town Spaulding Union High School Quabbin Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
12.9Highest
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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.