Compare towns
Barre vs Jay vs Orange
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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Jay | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
471Lowest |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
| Jay and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Orange 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Barre and Orange 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Barre and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Barre and Jay 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 |
— | $1,330±$153Lowest 8% above VT |
| Barre and Orange 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None 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.