Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Meredith vs Rockingham

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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Rockingham has the most affordable homes ($211k 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.

MeasureBrattleboroMeredithRockingham
People
Population
7,657Highest
6,758
4,807Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
46.4±2.6
19% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
Brattleboro and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Rockingham 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%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Rockingham 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.
$87,019±$19kHighest
8% above U.S.
$70,857±$16k
12% below U.S.
Meredith and Rockingham 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.
$210,900±$14kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$67
21% below U.S.
$1,149±$304Highest
19% below U.S.
$1,062±$101Lowest
25% 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.
$5,006
61% above U.S.
$4,887Lowest
57% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±13.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Meredith and Rockingham 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%
16.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
61.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and Rockingham 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 #62 of 120 in NH #65 of 70 in VT
School district — Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District Rockingham School District
High school in town — Inter-Lakes High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
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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.