Compare towns
Middlesex vs Barre vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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 | Middlesex | Barre | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
8,412Highest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 3% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below VT |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Fair Haven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% below VT |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$3,865Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.