Compare towns
Bath vs Barre vs Rockland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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 | Bath | Barre | Rockland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Highest |
8,412 |
7,035Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockland and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bath and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Bath and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$245,800±$38k 26% below U.S. |
| Bath and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S. |
$1,092±$105 23% below U.S. |
| Barre and Rockland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,059 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rockland and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1948Highest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rockland and Bath 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #19 of 70 in VT | #96 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Spaulding Union High School | Oceanside High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.