Compare towns
Barre vs Middlesex vs Derby
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
1,943Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 6% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby 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 VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.