Compare towns

Barre vs Cornwall 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 youngest population (median age 48.4).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.

MeasureBarreCornwallSouth Barre
People
Population
8,005Highest
1,208Lowest
1,346
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.4±4.2Lowest
12% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
52.7±2.6Highest
22% above VT
South Barre and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±3.3
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3Highest
VT: 17.9%
9.9%±5.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.7%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
11.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.2%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
34.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$93,210±$9k
15% above VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$78,050±$16kLowest
4% below VT
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$281,400±$13k
11% below VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$257,600±$25kLowest
19% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,524±$399
24% above VT
$1,125±$206Lowest
9% below VT
$1,609±$371Highest
30% above VT
South Barre and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,737Lowest
6% below VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$4,750
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
36.1%±40.7Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1969Lowest
7 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
4% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
15 minLowest
36% below VT
Work from home
13.7%±4.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.5
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall 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 — —
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.