Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Alstead 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Alstead has the most homeowners (76%).
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 | Alstead | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
1,551Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alstead and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11k 20% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Barre and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Barre and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,322 71% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Alstead 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.