Compare towns
Barre vs Ripton vs Reading vs South Barre
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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
South Barre has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Ripton | Reading | South Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,346 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT |
| South Barre and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading 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 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$78,050±$16k 4% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$257,600±$25k 19% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT |
| South Barre and Reading 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±40.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
15 minLowest 36% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| 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 | 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.