Compare towns
Barre vs Derby vs Randolph
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 highest household income ($93k).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
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 | Derby | Randolph |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
4,537Lowest |
4,843 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
| Derby and Barre 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% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Randolph and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby and Randolph 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% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$76,758±$6kLowest 5% below VT |
| Barre and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
| Barre and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
| Barre and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 6% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Randolph 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | #55 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
| 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.