Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Epping vs Barre

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroEppingBarre
People
Population
7,657
7,430Lowest
8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9
14% above U.S.
45.1±3.5Highest
16% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Epping and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.8
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Brattleboro and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Epping 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 U.S.
$104,220±$7kHighest
29% above U.S.
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,600±$20k
29% below U.S.
$436,900±$35kHighest
31% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$67
21% below U.S.
$1,742±$576Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
Epping and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,490
76% above U.S.
$6,936Highest
122% above U.S.
$5,192Lowest
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±9.5
U.S.: 51.1%
67.8%±25.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Epping 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±5.1
U.S.: 15.1%
24%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #33 of 70 in VT #77 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT
School district — Epping School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town — Epping High School Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3Lowest
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.