The Town FilesBarre, Vermont
City in Washington County · population 8,491 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $210,400
- Household income
- $65,625
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 76 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 42.2
Barre is a city of 8,491 people in Washington County, Vermont. The median home is worth $210,400, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Vermont towns, more vibrant than 98% of Vermont towns, better transit than 95% of Vermont towns.
How Barre ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barre is worth $210,400, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $65,625, which is more affordable than 76% of Vermont towns. Median rent is $1,093 a month. 50.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barre | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $210,400 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | $1,093 | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $65,625 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 50.4% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Barre
| People | Barre | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.2 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.4% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.1% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.1% | — |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.2% | 89.3% |
Weather in Barre
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 7.4°F. About 38.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 75.8 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 169 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barre since 1950, compared with 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on April 16, 2026 about 7.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 16, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 15 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Washington County since 1996
Washington County has been included in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| July 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4720: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| July 10, 2023 | Flood | EM-3595: Flooding |
| March 20, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4695: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Washington County
Washington County had 33,484 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $67,784 a year. Unemployment was 2% in 2023; in Barre itself the ACS puts it at 4.5%.
Public schools in Barre
3 public schools with 1,358 students, about 8.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barre City Elementary/Middle School | PK-8 | 757 | 10.0 |
| Spaulding Union High School | 9-12 | 601 | 10.2 |
| Central Vermont Career Center | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Barre
- Barre, VT2.0 mi · 7,923 people · home $281,400
- Berlin, VT4.9 mi · 2,849 people · home $273,600
- Montpelier, VT5.6 mi · 8,074 people · home $375,100
- Williamstown, VT6.3 mi · 3,515 people · home $234,900
- East Montpelier, VT6.7 mi · 2,598 people · home $378,700
- Northfield, VT8.2 mi · 3,757 people · home $241,400
- Northfield, VT9.8 mi · 5,918 people · home $274,400
- Waterbury, VT17.4 mi · 5,331 people · home $447,200
Barre questions
Is Barre, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barre scores better for retirees than 0% of Vermont towns and quieter than 1%. 19.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.2).
How much does a house cost in Barre?
The median owner-occupied home in Barre is valued at $210,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,625, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,093 a month.
What is the weather like in Barre?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 7.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.7 inches of precipitation a year and 75.8 inches of snow.
Does Barre get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barre since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on April 16, 2026. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)