Compare towns
Barre vs Exeter vs Williamstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Exeter | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
913Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
42±5Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown 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 U.S. |
$77,550±$19kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Barre and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 8% above U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.