Compare towns
Barre vs Windsor 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 most people working from home (13.7%).
Windsor has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
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 | Windsor | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,005Highest |
3,554Lowest |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% 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%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Barre and Derby 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 |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
| Barre and Derby 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 |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,096±$118 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 |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Derby 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% |
7.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 4% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Barre and Derby 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.