Compare towns
Rutland vs Mendon vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Barre has the youngest population (median age 42.2).
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 | Rutland | Mendon | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,712Highest |
1,113Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±2.1 14% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Mendon and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Rutland and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Barre and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Mendon and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,657Lowest 8% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±8.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 32% below VT |
17 min 28% below VT |
19 minHighest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | #51 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rutland City School District | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Rutland Senior High School | — | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.