Compare towns
Barre vs Durham vs Lee
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 affordable homes ($210k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
15,080Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Lee and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lee 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 10 photos → |
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.