What stands out worked out from the figures below

Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Williamstown	Barre
People
Population	3,579Lowest	8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8%	-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42±5Lowest about the VT average	42.2±6.6Highest about the VT average
	Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.4%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Barre and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	36.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7%	3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT	$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$234,900±$24kHighest 26% below VT	$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT
	Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT	$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,841Lowest 24% below VT	$5,192Highest 3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4%	34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Williamstown and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	17.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT	1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest about the VT average	19 minLowest 21% below VT
Work from home	13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%	10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Williamstown 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	#47 of 70 in VT	#19 of 70 in VT
School district	Paine Mountain Union School District #68	Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town	Williamstown Middle/High School	Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.5Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.