Compare towns
Middlesex vs Newfane vs Barre
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%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Newfane | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,456Lowest |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Barre 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 |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Newfane 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 |
$5,174Lowest about the VT average |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| 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.