Compare towns
Barre vs White River Junction vs Brandon
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 highest household income ($93k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k 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 | White River Junction | Brandon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
3,364Lowest |
4,120 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
| Brandon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brandon and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brandon 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% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
| Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
| Barre and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Otter Valley Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.