Compare towns

Barre vs Newfields 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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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.

MeasureBarreNewfieldsBrandon
People
Population
8,005Highest
2,023Lowest
4,120
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.4±4.2
24% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% 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%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brandon and Newfields 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields 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 U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$64,180±$12kLowest
21% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$281,400±$13k
15% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$227,800±$23kLowest
32% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,524±$399
8% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,064±$225Lowest
25% below U.S.
Newfields and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,737
52% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,241Lowest
36% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Newfields and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 min
10% below U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9.9%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 Newfields School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school 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

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.