Compare towns
Barre vs Middlesex vs Wilder
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 oldest population (median age 48.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Barre and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Middlesex 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% 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 | $4,737Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,505 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Wilder 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.