Compare towns
Barre vs Franklin vs Highgate 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).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Franklin | Highgate | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
1,590Lowest |
3,528 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Highgate 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Highgate 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% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Highgate and Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Highgate and Brattleboro 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 |
$891±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$895±$691 27% 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Franklin 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.8 |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.