What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).

Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rollinsford	Barre
People
Population	2,626Lowest	8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	42.2±6.6Highest 8% above U.S.
	Barre and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rollinsford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rollinsford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barre and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kHighest 11% above U.S.	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S.
	Rollinsford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kHighest 20% above U.S.	$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest 120% above U.S.	$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Rollinsford and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#94 of 120 in NH	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	Rollinsford School District	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	None in town	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.