Compare towns

Barre vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon 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 renters (49.6% rent).
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Sheldon has the highest household income ($79k).
Brattleboro has the most people working from home (17.9%).

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.

MeasureBarreEnosburghSheldonBrattleboro
People
Population
8,412
2,804
2,267Lowest
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.2±6.6
about the VT average
40.6±3.9Lowest
6% below VT
40.9±3.5
5% below VT
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
Brattleboro and Barre 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%
21%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Enosburgh 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%
17.9%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Highest
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%
VT: 43.8%
20.1%
VT: 43.8%
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
5.4%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2%±1.3Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
Enosburgh and Brattleboro 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
$63,828±$17k
21% below VT
$78,533±$25kHighest
3% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Sheldon 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
$223,100±$39k
30% below VT
$272,400±$61kHighest
14% below VT
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
Sheldon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,093±$58
11% below VT
$852±$87Lowest
31% below VT
$1,286±$379Highest
4% above VT
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
Sheldon and Barre 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
$3,624
28% below VT
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.4%±10.3
VT: 48.4%
48.9%±11.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
Enosburgh 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%
13.9%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.7%
VT: 73.2%
89%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
21% below VT
32 minHighest
36% above VT
25 min
7% above VT
19 min
19% below VT
Work from home
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
10.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro and Sheldon 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 #26 of 70 in VT — #33 of 70 in VT
School district Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Spaulding Union High School Enosburg Falls Middle/High School None in town Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
10.4
—
9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.