Compare towns
Barre vs Barre vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Barre | Barre | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
8,005 |
2,992Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
| Chester and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
| Barre and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
| 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 3% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre 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 VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 8.7Lowest |
| 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.