Compare towns
Barre vs Middlesex vs Pownal
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 most renters (49.6% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Pownal has the oldest population (median age 49).
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 | Middlesex | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,265 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Pownal and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$64,163±$21kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$256,600±$32k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 3% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Pownal 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 | — | #67 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.