Compare towns

Barre vs Grantham vs St. Albans vs Wolfeboro

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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).

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.

MeasureBarreGranthamSt. AlbansWolfeboro
People
Population
8,412Highest
3,465Lowest
6,954
6,571
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6
8% above U.S.
50.4±7.5
30% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
57±1.8Highest
47% above U.S.
Wolfeboro and Grantham 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%
19.1%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.7%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans and Grantham 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%
17%±6.9
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.6%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Grantham 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.
$106,403±$54kHighest
32% above U.S.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$94,375±$22k
17% above U.S.
Grantham and Wolfeboro 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.
$343,100±$39k
3% above U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
$546,500±$60kHighest
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
—
$1,150±$78Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,103±$76
22% below U.S.
St. Albans and Wolfeboro 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.
$7,605Highest
144% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$4,531
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
—
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans 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%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
23 min
15% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wolfeboro and Grantham 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 #6 of 120 in NH #46 of 70 in VT #46 of 120 in NH
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Grantham School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town Spaulding Union High School None in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) Kingswood Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
—
11.4Highest
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.