[New in Vermont]

I'm looking for advice/info on Barre from someone who lives/has lived here. I've been here 2 months and hear lots of negatives from non-residents, so I'd like some insight from others with experience here. Thanks!

[vter]

Sorry...don't live there.
IMO, Barre just seems to have a big bullseye hanging over hit that says "hit me here"!. Lots of bad stuff keeps happening there....the recent floods. Problems with violence. The drowning of some kids a few years back as well as a fatal fire here and there.
Barre has lots of potential IMO. Good downtown with nice architecture. The Hope Cemetary and Rock of Ages are something to see.

[chaz longue]

I always enjoy visiting Barre.
I keep promising myself I'll visit The Old Labor Hall one day soon - Barre provides small yet fascinating footnotes in the history of Labor in the USA.

There's a lot about this on the www.

In 1912 the "bread and roses strike" in Lawrence KS began to turn violent, and striking families sent 35 children to Barre VT to escape the possibility of harm.

The Barre Opera House has terrific performing arts offerings every year.

I have a client in Barre who I'm going to have breakfast with Saturday. If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to ask him on Saturday...

David Beckett

[jimmieholloway]

Im in charleston,wv and am mulling over a job in barre.what side of town do i want to stay away from(bad side)and where would i just "want" to live??

[jackmccullough]

Originally Posted by jimmieholloway

Im in charleston,wv and am mulling over a job in barre.what side of town do i want to stay away from(bad side)and where would i just "want" to live??

There are plenty of attractive places to live in and around Barre. I would say to rent a place first, then figure out where you want to be.

[68vette]

I don't live in Barre, but lived close and my children lived (west end) and went to school in Barre. If you have children I would not recommend living in Barre or Barre town. The elementary/middle school is a good school, but the high school is not a great school. My kids were pulled out of the school system when they were close to going to high school. Barre and Barre town share the high school and have separate elementary and middle schools. There are plenty of options to live and commute to Barre within a short distance if you have kids.
Barre town is not part of Barre City, but it is the most desirable place to live just on the outskirts of Barre City. Within the city limits I would say South Barre and a few developments near Berlin are the best options. The downtown has been hit hard by the recession. There are many storefronts that are vacant. Many of the homes in and around the downtown look poorly kept and a bit run down. It's not fair to generalize people, but when you are in the city, you know it is a place with a large number of middle to lower class citizens. It's the most affordable places in central Vermont for many people to live and I'm sure that is why many lower income people choose to live there. Barre has a great and interesting past, but the last few decades have not been great for the city.