Compare towns
Newfane vs Barre vs Dummerston vs Wardsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Newfane | Barre | Dummerston | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
8,412Highest |
2,090 |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.