Compare towns
Orange vs Fair Haven 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).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
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.
| Measure | Orange | Fair Haven | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,724 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
39.2±7.6Lowest 9% below 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Fair Haven and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4 VT: 21.4% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Orange 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% |
23.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Fair Haven and Barre 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 VT |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below VT |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$176,500±$14kLowest 44% below VT |
$281,400±$13kHighest 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$830±$116Lowest 33% 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 | $3,545Lowest 30% below VT |
$3,865 23% below VT |
$4,737Highest 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±20.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Fair Haven 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% |
18.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #66 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 | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.