Compare towns
Barre vs Ripton 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 the shortest commute (23 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Derby has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Ripton | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
508Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
47.7±14.2Lowest 11% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
| Derby and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$80,250±$8kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
— | $1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,737 6% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Derby 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.