Historic, Victorian, Income Potential
1890 Barre Victorian, 5 Beds, 2,474 Sqft, Former Duplex — $150,000
6
out of 10
HousesUnder150K Score
Property Merit 50% · Condition 25% · Price/Sq Ft 15% · Market 10%
| Category | Wt. | Score | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property Merit | 50% | 8 | 1890 home, 5 beds, 2474 sqft, hardwood floors, high ceilings, former duplex income potential |
| Condition | 25% | 5 | Active roof leak over porch, possible asbestos siding, newer furnace, partial window and roof updates |
| Price / Sq Ft | 15% | 9 | $61/sqft vs $156/sqft zip median — 61% below; thin 8-comp dataset but directionally strong |
| Price vs. Market | 5% | 9 | $150K vs $344,851 zip median — 56% below median; meaningful even with thin market data |
| Market Conditions | 5% | 6 | 30% price drops signal buyer leverage; balanced sale-to-list at 98.5%; ZIP DOM 64 days |
At $61 per square foot, this house costs less than some people's kitchen renovations. The zip median runs $156 per square foot. That gap is wide enough to make you look twice, and the house is big enough to make you stay.
Built in 1890, 40 Merchant Street has 2,474 square feet across five bedrooms, high ceilings, and hardwood floors through much of the house. The scale is the thing. Five bedrooms in a Victorian with tall ceilings and large rooms gives you space that newer construction at this price point simply cannot match. A family that needs room to spread out, or someone who works from home and wants an actual office, or a buyer who hosts and wants guest space, this house fits all of that without asking anyone to share walls.
The former duplex configuration is worth thinking about seriously. The layout was set up to run as two separate units. Bringing that back online, even partially, could offset carrying costs in a meaningful way. That possibility is baked into the bones of the building, which makes it more flexible than a straightforward single-family house at this size.
Now for the problems. There is an active roof leak over the porch, and that needs to be addressed before winter. The exterior siding may be asbestos tile, which requires testing and professional handling if any work touches it. Some windows have been updated, some sections of the roof have been replaced, so the house is partway through a longer process of bringing things current. A newer furnace is in place. This house takes work and money, and anyone walking in should plan for that honestly rather than hope for the best.
What the price makes possible is a 134-year-old house in downtown Barre, with five bedrooms and a layout that once generated rental income, for $150,000. That figure is 56 percent below the zip median sale price. Even accounting for the condition issues and a realistic repair budget, the math here is hard to replicate in most Vermont markets at this moment.
