Compare towns

Barre vs Ryegate vs Barre

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%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% 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.

MeasureBarreRyegateBarre
People
Population
8,005
1,059Lowest
8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
0%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
48.4±4.2Highest
12% above VT
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
42.2±6.6
about the VT average
Barre 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%
23.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Ryegate 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%
22.1%±1.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Ryegate 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%
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.5%±1.2
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
Barre 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
$66,484±$15k
18% below VT
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$281,400±$13kHighest
11% below VT
$219,300±$32k
31% below VT
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,524±$399Highest
24% above VT
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
$1,093±$58
11% below VT
Barre and Barre 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
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
$5,192Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±20.4
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Ryegate 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%
14.5%
VT: 10.1%
17.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1949
27 yrs older than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
4% below VT
28 minHighest
18% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
Work from home
13.7%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
Barre 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 — #19 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 — Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town None in town — Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.7
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.