Compare towns

Barre vs Windsor vs 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Barre has the most homeowners (88.4%).

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.

MeasureBarreWindsorBarre
People
Population
8,412Highest
2,060Lowest
8,005
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
0%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
44.6±12.3
3% above VT
48.4±4.2Highest
12% above VT
Barre and Windsor 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%
21.1%±8.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.3
VT: 17.9%
Windsor and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Barre 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
VT: 43.8%
40%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.2
VT: 7%
Barre 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
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below VT
$93,210±$9kHighest
15% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$210,400±$15k
34% below VT
$170,300±$22kLowest
46% below VT
$281,400±$13kHighest
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58
11% below VT
$1,002±$107Lowest
19% below VT
$1,524±$399Highest
24% above VT
Barre and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,192Highest
3% above VT
$4,878
3% below VT
$4,737Lowest
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3
VT: 48.4%
31.4%±20Lowest
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±20.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barre 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
VT: 10.1%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
51.6%
VT: 73.2%
88.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
29 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
22 min
6% below VT
23 minHighest
4% below VT
Work from home
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.7%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barre and 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 #61 of 70 in VT #19 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center — Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town Spaulding Union High School — None in town
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.