Compare towns

Orange vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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.

MeasureOrangeSpringfieldBarre
People
Population
957Lowest
1,122
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.3±5.3
29% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
48.4±4.2Lowest
24% above U.S.
Springfield and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
16.6%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barre and Orange 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%
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Barre and Springfield 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%
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
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±$13kLowest
12% below U.S.
$100,893±$19kHighest
25% above U.S.
$93,210±$9k
15% above U.S.
Springfield and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22kLowest
33% below U.S.
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$281,400±$13k
15% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153
6% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,524±$399Highest
8% above U.S.
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
14% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$4,737
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±20.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Barre and Springfield 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%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.4%
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 min
6% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
13.5%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.7%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
Springfield and Barre 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.