Compare towns

Orange vs Washington 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 renters (12.2% rent).
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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.

MeasureOrangeWashingtonBarre
People
Population
957Lowest
1,056
8,005Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.7%
VT: +2.8%
0%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.3±5.3
17% above VT
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
48.4±4.2Lowest
12% above VT
Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barre and Washington 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%
24.3%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Washington 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%
31%
VT: 43.8%
39.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.2
VT: 7%
Washington 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
$66,103±$8kLowest
19% below VT
$93,210±$9kHighest
15% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$222,000±$22k
30% below VT
$217,700±$37kLowest
31% below VT
$281,400±$13kHighest
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,330±$153
8% above VT
$996±$285Lowest
19% 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
$3,545
30% below VT
$3,485Lowest
31% below VT
$4,737Highest
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±87Lowest
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±20.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barre and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.2%
VT: 10.1%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1974Lowest
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%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.7%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
Washington 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 Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Barre Unified Union School District #97
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.