Compare towns
Barre vs Halifax vs Whitingham
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Halifax | Whitingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
847Lowest |
1,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
| Whitingham 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 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Barre and Whitingham 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 VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$70,625±$11kHighest 13% below VT |
| Whitingham 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±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
| Halifax and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,991Lowest about the VT average |
$5,055 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Halifax 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Halifax School District | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 7.8Lowest |
| 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.