Compare towns
Union vs Barre vs Appleton vs Pittston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
Pittston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Union | Barre | Appleton | Pittston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,663 |
8,412Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,093 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.4±5.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±7.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$86,614±$18kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Pittston and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$238,700±$66k 28% below U.S. |
| Union and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452Highest 17% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,080±$593Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Union and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276 5% above U.S. |
$5,192Highest 66% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$1,909Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Pittston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union and Appleton 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 | — | #123 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Appleton Public Schools | RSU 11/MSAD 11 |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.