Compare towns
Orange vs Stowe 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 most affordable homes ($222k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Barre has the most homeowners (88.4%).
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 | Stowe | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
5,285 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
46.3±7.6Lowest 7% 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%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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 VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Stowe 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 30% below VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Stowe 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 |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Stowe 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.