Compare towns
Barre vs Belvidere vs Stratton
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
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 | Belvidere | Stratton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
422Lowest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Highest about the VT average |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
| Barre and Belvidere 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% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Stratton 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 VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$81,563±$18k about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
| Stratton and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Stratton 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,750 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Belvidere 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 | — | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | — |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.