Compare towns
Barre vs Saco vs Hampden
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 renters (49.6% rent).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% 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.
| Measure | Barre | Saco | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
20,819Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Saco 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38k 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,286±$317Highest 9% below U.S. |
| Hampden and Saco 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Saco Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.