Compare towns
South Barre vs White River Junction 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 most homeowners (82.7%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | South Barre | White River Junction | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,346Lowest |
3,364 |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| White River Junction and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barre and White River Junction 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
| South Barre and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,600±$25k 19% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| South Barre and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±40.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| White River Junction and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 36% below VT |
15 min 35% below VT |
19 minHighest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Barre and White River Junction 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 |
| High school 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.