Compare towns
Barre vs White River Junction 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 affordable homes ($210k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
South Barre has the most homeowners (82.7%).
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 | White River Junction | South Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
3,364 |
1,346Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction 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 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and White River Junction 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and White River Junction 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 VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT |
| South Barre and White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$257,600±$25k 19% below VT |
| White River Junction and South Barre 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 |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT |
| South Barre and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±40.7 VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction 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 VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 21% below VT |
15 min 35% below VT |
15 minLowest 36% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Barre and White River Junction 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.