Compare towns
Barre vs Orange vs Proctor
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 most expensive homes ($281k median).
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
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 | Proctor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
957Lowest |
1,794 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
42.4±6.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Proctor 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% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Proctor 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±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
| Barre and Proctor 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±$22k 30% below VT |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% 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 |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Proctor 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.