Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Northfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Northfield has the most homeowners (73.5%).
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 | Northfield | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,657 |
5,920Lowest |
8,412Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the VT average |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
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%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Northfield 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% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Northfield 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 VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Northfield 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 26% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Northfield and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67Highest 10% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490Highest 9% above VT |
$4,878Lowest 3% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield 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% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1956Highest 20 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Northfield 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | — | Northfield Middle/High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| 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.