Compare towns
Orange vs Worcester vs Middlesex 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).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Worcester | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957 |
831Lowest |
1,943 |
8,005Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
0% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% 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%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex 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% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and Middlesex 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% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$93,210±$9k 15% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$281,400±$13k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 8% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,524±$399Highest 24% above VT |
| Barre and Middlesex 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 |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,737 6% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±20.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Worcester 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.7%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.