Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Calais vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Brattleboro | Calais | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,657 |
1,713Lowest |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,600±$20k 26% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67 10% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490 9% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.