Compare towns
Orange vs Union 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).
Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Union | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
2,663 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 29% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Union 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% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union 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±$13kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$93,210±$9kHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Barre and Union 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. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$281,400±$13kHighest 15% below U.S. |
| Barre and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% 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 | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$4,737Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barre and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
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.