Barre, VT

Census place 5003175 · pop 8,412

D56/ 100
😐 Meh
D−
in VT
📍 Vermont ranks #4 of 50 states →
🏆 Jobs2.5% · top 7%
🚽 Prop tax2.47% · bottom 4%
Taxes
2.47% property · US 0.99%6.39% sales · US 7.00%up to 8.75% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Property-tax burden2.47%4

U.S. median 0.99% · worse than most cities

2.47% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Population growth (5yr)-2.7%15

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-2.7% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Homeownership50.4%16

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

50.4% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Adult smoking17.3%17

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

17.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Poor mental health18.9%23

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

18.9% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Poverty rate17.3%26

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

17.3% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Income inequality0.4726

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Median household income$65,62537

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$65,625 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Broadband access91.2%46

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

91.2% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Physical inactivity24.6%53

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

24.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Bachelor's degree or higher36.1%62

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

36.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Uninsured adults8.3%63

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

8.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Adult obesity31.8%68

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

31.8% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Housing cost$210,40068

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$210,400 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$1,425/mo74

U.S. median $1,756/mo · better than most cities

$1,425/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Commute time19 min83

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

19 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level57/10085

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

57/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Unemployment rateCounty-level2.5%93

U.S. median 3.6% · better than most cities

2.5% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Not measured for Barre: Crime, Air, Bad air, Property crime. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.

Frequently asked

Is Barre, VT a good place to live?
By the numbers, Barre scores 56/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 18 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is unemployment rate and its weakest is property-tax burden. Vermont overall ranks #4 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
Is Barre, VT expensive to live in?
Barre has a median home value of $210,400 and typical rent around $1,425/mo — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Barre, VT?
Its weakest measured area is property-tax burden (2.47%) — 4/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Barre, VT best at?
Its strongest measured area is unemployment rate (2.5%) — 93/100, better than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.