What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hinsdale has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).

Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).

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	Hinsdale	Barre
People
Population	3,997Lowest	8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.3±10.6Highest 37% above U.S.	42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Hinsdale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22%	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hinsdale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.6%±9.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hinsdale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	12.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,191±$5kHighest 14% below U.S.	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Hinsdale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$200,700±$19kLowest 40% below U.S.	$210,400±$15kHighest 37% below U.S.
	Barre and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,050±$409Lowest 26% below U.S.	$1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S.
	Barre and Hinsdale are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,899Lowest 57% above U.S.	$5,192Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	63.8%±22.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hinsdale and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	9.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barre and Hinsdale 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	#110 of 120 in NH	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	Hinsdale School District	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	Hinsdale High School	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.