A central city in Washington County, Vermont, Barre has approximately 8,300 residents, and the median household income is $53,288. Often known as the “granite center of the world,” Barre has many granite quarries that attracted immigrant workers in the 1800s. “Barre is considered the twin city of Montpelier, which is the capital of Vermont,” says Kate Root, Realtor at Green Light Real Estate – Barre with eight years of experience. “The two cities are very different; Barre is more industrial, and the people here have a hardworking culture. Barre Granite is very famous, and you’ll see lots of granite sheds where granite is cut and shipped out.”
A Welcome to Barre sign, the Granite Center of the World.
Websterville borders the Barre Gray Quarry, known for its granite's color and durability.
Folks listen to the tour guide at the Rock of Ages granite quarry tour near South Barre.
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Affordable real estate in Washington County
Barre’s city center features many historic Victorian-era homes, and areas along the hills have many midcentury modern houses from the 1950s to the 1990s, including ranch styles, split-levels, Colonial Revivals and raised ranches. Farther out along the quarries are smaller Cape Cods and New Englander homes, many of which were originally inhabited by granite workers back when the quarry mines were all active. “Barre City is a valley and the town area is along the hills around the valley,” Root says. “The city center has many steampunk houses with cool woodwork, gold accents and intricate architecture. Many of these older homes and mansions have turned into multifamily houses and are concentrated in downtown. The town area also has newer builds and Colonial Revivals on bigger pieces of land, and two little hamlets, Westerville and Graniteville, have more affordable smaller homes.” The median home price in Barre is about $310,000, which is considerably lower than the national median of approximately $400,000. Single-family properties range from approximately $150,000 to over $600,000. Historic multifamily houses are usually in the city center area, going from $100,000 to over $300,000.
This Colonial home in Barre showcases timeless symmetry, classic charm, and a rich architectural heritage.
Victorian homes in Barre stand out with intricate details, ornate woodwork, and timeless elegance.
Steep gables, wraparound porches, and decorative trim define the beauty of Barre's Victorian-style homes.
Barre's multifamily homes blend historic character with modern living, providing versatile housing options.
Ranch-style homes in Barre offer single-level living with open layouts, modern comfort, and classic New England charm.
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Recreational and outdoor hours at the Milestone Trails
In addition to public parks and sports fields, Barre features the Milestone Trails network, which spans over 1,500 acres of forests and terrain. Most of the trails are along the historic quarries and the Barre Town Forest areas, providing residents with mountain biking, recreational hiking and cross-country skiing opportunities. The Barre Municipal Auditorium has a state-of-the-art gymnasium with basketball courts and regularly hosts state championships, concerts, trade shows and fairs.
A variety of directional arrows point the way to the trails at Milestone Trails where you can go for hiking and cross-country skiing.
A car-dependent community that does not have Uber
Barre is accessible via Interstate 89, U.S. Route 302 and Vermont State Routes 14 and 62. Public bus service is provided by Green Mountain Transit, which is the only transit authority in the state. Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport is approximately 40 miles away and offers non-stop connections to almost 15 major cities in the US. Aside from several health clinics, the closest hospital to Barre is Central Vermont Medical Center, which is about 4 miles northwest in Berlin.
Public and private schooling in Barre
Barre Unified Union School District has an overall C-minus Niche grade. The school system serves over 2,200 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 17-to-1. The city and town of Barre each have a K-8 school, and all students eventually head to a single secondary school, Spaulding High School. Several faith-based private schools, including the K-8 St. Monica - St. Michael School and the K-12 Websterville Christian Academy, are both located in and around Barre. In addition to several adult schools and career centers in Barre, the University of Vermont Extension, Vermont College of Fine Arts and Community College of Vermont are all north of the city.
Spaulding High School in Barre, serves grades 9-12.
Shops and eateries on Main Street
The city’s retailers, restaurants, big-box stores and markets are located along Main Street. Many residents also go to neighboring Montpelier to shop or dine out. Dining options in Barre range from traditional tavern or comfort American food to Chinese fare.
Residents of Websterville can drive 10 minutes to Downtown Barre to shop and eat at restaurants.
The Quarry Kitchen, near Websterville, serves American pub style cuisine with a full bar.
Residents of East Barre can travel ten minutes to Hannaford for all groceries and essentials.
The Cornerstone Pub and Grille, near East Barre, has a full bar and dining room.
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Community events in Barre
Each year, community members of Barre get together over neighborhood block parties such as the Barre Heritage Festival. Thunder Road, a local car racing track, has races every week in the summer. “The races get a big crowd and you can hear the race track all over the city,” Root says. “A fun fact about Barre is that our governor actually races, and you can usually see him race one of the big races here.”
The Barre Farmers' Market takes place weekly in the Vermont City Park, near East Barre.
Crime data from recent years
According to Barre’s police department, the number of violent and property crimes have moderately increased from 2022 to 2023.
Written By
Christina Xu
Photography Contributed By
Matt Barrett
Video By
Taylor Noll
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
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On average, homes in Barre, VT sell after 38 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Barre, VT over the last 12 months is $321,250, up 11% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Lorraine ChecchiColdwell Banker Hickok & Boardman / E. Montpelier
Enjoy Effortless Living in a Stunning Hillside Contemporary Ranch.This thoughtfully designed contemporary home offers the ease of one-level living with smart, flexible spaces throughout. Set on a professionally landscaped hillside lot between Montpelier and Barre—just minutes from I-89 Exit 7—this home combines comfort, accessibility, and style. The light-filled great room features cathedral
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