Compare towns
Halifax vs Barre vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Albany has the most kids (31% under 18).
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 | Halifax | Barre | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 847Lowest |
8,412Highest |
934 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
42.4±6.2Highest about the VT average |
| Albany and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.4%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Albany and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±7.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Halifax and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.3%±4.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Albany and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
$59,167±$14kLowest 27% below VT |
| Barre and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$231,500±$12k 27% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,114±$23Highest 10% below VT |
| Albany and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,991 about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,093Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44%±65.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 38% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20%±11.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Albany 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 | Halifax School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.