Compare towns
Orange vs Castleton vs Groton vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).
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 | Orange | Castleton | Groton | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
4,453 |
967 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
0%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
48.4±4.2 12% above VT |
| Orange and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Castleton 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$77,250±$14k 5% below VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
| Barre and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 30% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$243,000±$70k 23% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,659 27% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
30 minHighest 29% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | 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 | 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.