Compare towns

Newfane vs Dummerston vs Barre

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 oldest population (median age 54.4).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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.

MeasureNewfaneDummerstonBarre
People
Population
1,456Lowest
2,090
8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.7%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
Newfane and Dummerston 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%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Barre 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%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Newfane and Dummerston 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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9Highest
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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% 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
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below VT
Dummerston and Newfane 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
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,093±$58Lowest
11% below VT
Dummerston and Newfane 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
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$5,192Highest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.9%±79.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Newfane and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
13% above VT
21 min
11% below VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
Work from home
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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 Our Story 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.