Compare towns
Sandgate vs Barre vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandgate has the oldest population (median age 55.7).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k 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.
| Measure | Sandgate | Barre | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 435Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,167±$19k 15% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barre and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 17 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| 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.