Compare towns

Orange vs Bath 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

Orange has the most affordable homes ($222k median).
Bath has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Barre has the highest household income ($93k).

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.

MeasureOrangeBathBarre
People
Population
957Lowest
1,097
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±5.3Highest
29% above U.S.
48.6±8.6
25% above U.S.
48.4±4.2Lowest
24% above U.S.
Orange and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Bath and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bath and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$71,302±$13k
12% below U.S.
$67,813±$22kLowest
16% below U.S.
$93,210±$9kHighest
15% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
33% below U.S.
$234,400±$23k
30% below U.S.
$281,400±$13kHighest
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,438±$309
about the U.S. average
$1,524±$399Highest
8% above U.S.
Barre and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,545Lowest
14% above U.S.
$4,413
41% above U.S.
$4,737Highest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
5.9%±61.3
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±20.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Barre and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
26 min
3% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barre and Orange 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 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Bath School District Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
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.