Compare towns

Barre vs Hampton 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).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
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.

MeasureBarreHamptonSt. Albans
People
Population
8,412
16,426Highest
6,954Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6
8% above U.S.
55.8±2.1Highest
43% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
13.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans and Barre 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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barre and Hampton 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.
$95,233±$9kHighest
18% above U.S.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$550,200±$39kHighest
65% above U.S.
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,628±$94Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,150±$78
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192
66% above U.S.
$6,813Highest
118% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.8%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton and St. Albans 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%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 70 in VT #31 of 120 in NH #46 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town Spaulding Union High School Winnacunnet High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
10.1Lowest
11.4Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.