Compare towns
Barre vs Saco vs South Barre
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%).
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 | Saco | South Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
20,819Highest |
1,346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
52.7±2.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Saco and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$78,050±$16k 3% below U.S. |
| Saco and South Barre 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. |
$257,600±$25k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,609±$371Highest 14% above U.S. |
| South Barre 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. |
$4,750Lowest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±40.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and South 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% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco and South 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Saco Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.