Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Meredith 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 most kids (20% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,657 |
6,758Lowest |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,600±$20k 29% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67 21% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490Highest 76% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.