Compare towns

Barre vs Grantham vs St. Johnsbury

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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
St. Johnsbury has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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. Johnsbury
People
Population
8,412Highest
3,465Lowest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+14%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
50.4±7.5Highest
30% above U.S.
42.8±3.8
10% above U.S.
Grantham and St. Johnsbury 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%
21%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Johnsbury 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%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
St. Johnsbury 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
St. Johnsbury and Grantham 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.
$57,738±$9kLowest
28% below U.S.
Grantham 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±$15k
37% below U.S.
$343,100±$39kHighest
3% above U.S.
$177,700±$17kLowest
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Highest
23% below U.S.
—
$914±$44Lowest
35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192
66% above U.S.
$7,605Highest
144% above U.S.
$3,916Lowest
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
—
48%±11Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Johnsbury 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
U.S.: 12.5%
0%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
100%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
23 minHighest
15% below U.S.
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±6.2
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. Johnsbury 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 #60 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Grantham School District —
High school in town Spaulding Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.