Compare towns
Orange vs South Hooksett 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).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Barre has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | South Hooksett | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
5,902 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
48.4±4.2 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barre and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22kLowest 33% below U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,524±$399Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Barre and South Hooksett 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. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school 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.