Compare towns

Newfields vs Williston vs Barre

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureNewfieldsWillistonBarre
People
Population
2,023Lowest
10,144Highest
8,412
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
45.4±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Williston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Williston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$106,967±$12k
32% above U.S.
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
Newfields and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$5,192Lowest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 min
25% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Williston 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 — #11 of 70 in VT #19 of 70 in VT
School district Newfields School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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

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.