Compare towns
Barre vs St. Albans vs Brattleboro vs Windsor
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 highest household income ($66k).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | St. Albans | Brattleboro | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412 |
6,954 |
12,122Highest |
3,554Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Windsor 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% |
20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Windsor 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% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
$57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Barre and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$263,400±$18kHighest 17% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| St. Albans 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 |
$1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| St. Albans 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 |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans 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% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4% VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
23 minHighest 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and St. Albans 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | Brattleboro Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
11.4Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.