Compare towns
Barre vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Derby has the most renters (15.3% rent).
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 | Orange | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
957Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
50.3±5.3 17% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Derby 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Barre and Derby 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 |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below 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 |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% |
7.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.