Compare towns
Barre vs Gray vs Derby
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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 | Gray | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005 |
8,429Highest |
4,537Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Derby 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gray 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. |
$95,236±$8kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gray 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 15% below U.S. |
$363,700±$20kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$225,000±$10kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$118Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Barre and Gray 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. |
$3,683 18% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Gray 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| 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.