Compare towns
South Barre 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
South Barre has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | South Barre | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,346Lowest |
1,943 |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 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 | $78,050±$16k 4% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,600±$25k 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| South Barre and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±40.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| South Barre and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 36% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and South 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.