What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cabot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).

Barre has the shortest commute (23 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Cabot	Barre
People
Population	1,579Lowest	8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	0%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.3±6.6Lowest 6% below VT	48.4±4.2Highest 12% above VT
	Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9%	16.6%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21%±6.4Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	39.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7%
	Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,031±$16kLowest 5% below VT	$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT
	Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,500±$77kLowest 15% below VT	$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT
	Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,243±$354Lowest about the VT average	$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT
	Barre and Cabot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,639Lowest 8% below VT	$4,737Highest 6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±26.7Highest VT: 48.4%	42.4%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Cabot and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9%Highest VT: 10.1%	2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	88.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT	1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 27% above VT	23 minLowest 4% below VT
Work from home	21.4%±4.2Highest VT: 16.9%	13.7%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Cabot 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
School district	—	Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.