Compare towns
Barre vs Newfields vs Middlesex 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).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Newfields | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
2,023 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Middlesex 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | None yet | None yet |
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.