Compare towns
Barre vs Orange vs Walden
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 most affordable homes ($222k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
957Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 12% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Orange and Walden 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Walden 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Barre and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.