Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Calais vs Windsor

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%).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroCalaisWindsor
People
Population
7,657Highest
1,713Lowest
3,554
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.3±5.9
about the VT average
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
44.8±6.5Highest
4% above VT
Windsor and Brattleboro 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%
19.5%±5.2Lowest
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%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
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+
47.2%
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.4
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
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±$12k
35% below VT
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,600±$20k
26% below VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$207,500±$31kLowest
34% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$67
10% below VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,026±$89Lowest
17% 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
$5,209Lowest
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±9.5
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
23 min
3% below VT
Work from home
11.8%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5Lowest
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 — #61 of 70 in VT
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 —
High school in town — None in town —
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.