Compare towns

Barre vs Eden vs Franklin

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).
Eden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Franklin has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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.

MeasureBarreEdenFranklin
People
Population
8,412Highest
1,351Lowest
1,590
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.2±6.6Highest
about the VT average
37.7±1.9Lowest
13% below VT
38.8±6.9
10% below VT
Barre and Franklin 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%
20.4%±4.3
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Franklin and Eden 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%
11.6%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
15.3%±1.4
VT: 21.4%
Barre and Franklin 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%
17.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±3.8
VT: 7%
7.5%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
Franklin and Eden 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
$83,578±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$79,917±$21k
about the VT average
Eden and Franklin 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
$215,900±$27k
32% below VT
$247,400±$66kHighest
22% below VT
Franklin and Eden 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
$1,300±$441Highest
5% above VT
$891±$266Lowest
28% below VT
Eden 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
$3,313Lowest
34% below VT
$3,384
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3
VT: 48.4%
34.3%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
45.5%±42.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Franklin 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%
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
77.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
74.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1991Highest
15 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
38 minHighest
63% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
Work from home
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
5.6%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.1%±4.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Franklin 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 — —
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town Spaulding Union High School None in town None in town
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.