Compare towns
Barre vs Mapleton vs Union vs Brandon
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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Brandon has the oldest population (median age 50.1).
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 | Mapleton | Union | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.1±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Brandon 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brandon 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% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Union 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 U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Barre and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$227,800±$23k 32% below U.S. |
| Barre and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,064±$225 25% below U.S. |
| Barre and Union 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$4,241 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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 | 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.