Compare towns
Barre vs Brattleboro vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barre | Brattleboro | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
7,657 |
964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.9 about the VT average |
45±3.5Highest 4% above VT |
| Elmore and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
24.8%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.2% VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$98,750±$24kHighest 22% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$234,600±$20k 26% below VT |
$315,800±$47kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,113±$67 10% below VT |
$1,225±$263Highest about the VT average |
| Elmore and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 3% above VT |
$5,490Highest 9% above VT |
$5,066Lowest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±5.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.