Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Colchester 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 the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Colchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
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 | Colchester | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122 |
17,648Highest |
8,412Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
39.3±1.4Lowest 9% 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 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±2.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Colchester 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 VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Barre 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% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,474±$122Highest 19% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$5,471 9% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Colchester 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% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
74.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
20 minHighest 15% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Colchester 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Colchester School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Colchester High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.8Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.