Compare towns
Barre vs Putnam vs Lyndon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Lyndon has the most affordable homes ($227k 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.
| Measure | Barre | Putnam | Lyndon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
540Lowest |
5,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2Lowest 24% above U.S. |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
48.4±6.7Lowest 24% above U.S. |
| Putnam 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Putnam and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$68,786±$6kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Barre and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$227,000±$21kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Barre and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
— | $1,096±$123Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Barre and Lyndon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,846 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyndon 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barre and Lyndon 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 | — | #44 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.