What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lisbon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).

Barre has the shortest commute (19 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	Lisbon	Barre
People
Population	9,750Highest	8,412Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average	42.2±6.6Highest 8% above U.S.
	Barre and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22%	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barre and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lisbon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,819±$9kHighest 4% below U.S.	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Lisbon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$26kHighest 22% below U.S.	$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$979±$286Lowest 31% below U.S.	$1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S.
	Barre and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,324Lowest 7% above U.S.	$5,192Highest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.4%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lisbon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above U.S.	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lisbon 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	#60 of 133 in ME	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	Lisbon Public Schools	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	Lisbon High School	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.8Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.