Compare towns
Barre vs Exeter vs Berlin vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
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 | Exeter | Berlin | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
16,151Highest |
2,880Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 66% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,418Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #16 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
12.1Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.