Compare towns
Barre vs Worcester vs Ripton 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 most renters (49.6% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barre has the most kids (16.6% 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 | Worcester | Ripton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
| Barre and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barre 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Ripton and 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 34% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Ripton 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 | — | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.