Compare towns
Barre vs Dover vs Putney vs Brattleboro
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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Putney has the highest household income ($80k).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Dover | Putney | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
1,466Lowest |
2,622 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Dover and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Putney 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Brattleboro 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% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Putney and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Dover and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$670±$49 46% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Barre 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 |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Brattleboro 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% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 21% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Brattleboro 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.