Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Calais vs Exeter 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
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Calais | Exeter | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
1,713Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Exeter 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. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Calais 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. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Calais 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% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.