Compare towns
Barre vs Ira vs Brandon
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 people working from home (13.7%).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | Ira | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
381Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
50.1±3.1 16% above VT |
| Ira and Brandon 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Brandon 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ira 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±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$71,827±$5k 12% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Barre and Ira 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 |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,064±$225 14% below VT |
| Barre and Brandon 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 |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,241 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Brandon 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% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Brandon 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.