What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brattleboro	Bristol
People
Population	12,122Highest	3,778Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT	47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT
	Bristol and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9%	12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brattleboro and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%	21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brattleboro and Bristol 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 VT: 43.8%	41.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7%
	Bristol and Brattleboro 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 VT	$74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT	$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT	$1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT
	Bristol and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,700Lowest 13% above VT	$5,978Highest 19% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	47.9%±14.4Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bristol 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 VT: 10.1%	10.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%	71.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 19% below VT	25 minHighest 5% above VT
Work from home	17.9%±4 VT: 16.9%	17.9%±6.1 VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 70 in VT	#31 of 70 in VT
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	Mt. Abraham Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.