Compare towns
Barre vs Fair Haven vs Hampton
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 renters (49.6% rent).
Fair Haven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Hampton has the highest household income ($74k).
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 | Fair Haven | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,724 |
1,145Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.1±14.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.9%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Hampton 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% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fair Haven 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 U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kHighest 37% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14k 47% below U.S. |
$166,800±$10kLowest 50% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,264±$375Highest 11% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
13.2%±25.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fair Haven and Barre 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% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Hampton 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 | #66 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.