Compare towns

Barre vs Hampton 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 expensive homes ($210k median).
Hampton has the most homeowners (78.4%).
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.

MeasureBarreHamptonSt. Johnsbury
People
Population
8,412Highest
1,145Lowest
7,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
43.1±14.7Highest
11% above U.S.
42.8±3.8
10% above U.S.
Hampton 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%
15.9%±6.9
U.S.: 22%
21%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. Johnsbury and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
St. Johnsbury and Hampton 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%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
St. Johnsbury 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.
$73,796±$8kHighest
9% below U.S.
$57,738±$9kLowest
28% 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.
$166,800±$10kLowest
50% below U.S.
$177,700±$17k
47% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58
23% below U.S.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$914±$44Lowest
35% 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.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,916
26% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
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%
16.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
16.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%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.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 min
26% below U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. Johnsbury and Barre 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 — #60 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center — —
High school in town Spaulding Union High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.