Compare towns

Barre vs St. Albans vs St. George

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 affordable homes ($210k median).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
St. George has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureBarreSt. AlbansSt. George
People
Population
8,412Highest
6,954
812Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+17.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.2±6.6
about the VT average
38.7±2Lowest
10% below VT
44.7±13.4Highest
4% above VT
St. George 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
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
25.6%±7Highest
VT: 17.9%
St. George and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
15.9%±2.7
VT: 21.4%
Barre and St. George 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%
31.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
5.9%±3.9Highest
VT: 7%
St. George 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
$57,980±$7kLowest
29% below VT
$109,464±$34kHighest
35% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below VT
$263,400±$18k
17% below VT
$376,800±$50kHighest
19% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58Lowest
11% below VT
$1,150±$78
7% below VT
$1,394±$132Highest
13% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192
3% above VT
$4,436Lowest
12% below VT
$5,514Highest
9% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
51.8%±11.8
VT: 48.4%
96%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
St. George and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
VT: 10.1%
19.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%
VT: 73.2%
49%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
91.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
29 yrs older than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
23 minHighest
4% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
Work from home
10.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
27.6%±8.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #19 of 70 in VT #46 of 70 in VT —
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 —
High school in town Spaulding Union High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
11.4Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.