Compare towns
Williamstown vs Windham vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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 | Williamstown | Windham | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,579Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,005 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±5 8% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.4±4.2Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$93,210±$9kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$281,400±$13k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,524±$399Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,841Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,737 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±20.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 12% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Williamstown 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 |
| High school in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.