Compare towns
Unity vs Barre vs Alexandria
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Alexandria has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
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 | Unity | Barre | Alexandria |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
8,412Highest |
1,983 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
52.6±5 35% above U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Alexandria and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barre and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$89,194±$8kHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$323,300±$27kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,135±$273 20% below U.S. |
| Unity and Alexandria are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
$5,021Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.6%±40.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alexandria and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alexandria 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Unity School District | 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 History | 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.