Compare towns
Barre vs Epping vs Epsom vs St. Albans
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Epping | Epsom | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
7,430 |
4,939Lowest |
6,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Epsom and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$97,941±$13k 21% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Epping and Epsom 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. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$338,400±$19k about the U.S. average |
$263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78 19% below U.S. |
| Epping and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 66% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,210 99% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Epsom 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Epping School District | Epsom School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Epping High School | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.