Compare towns
Barre vs Williamstown vs Orange
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).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k 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 | Williamstown | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
3,579 |
957Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
42±5Lowest about the VT average |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
| Orange 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% |
19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williamstown and Barre 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Orange 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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±$9k 15% above VT |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Williamstown 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±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
$234,900±$24k 26% below VT |
$222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399 24% above VT |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,330±$153Lowest 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Barre 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 |
$3,841 24% below VT |
$3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown 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% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
23 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown 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 | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.