What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Conway has the most expensive homes ($314k 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	Conway
People
Population	12,122Highest	10,141Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S.	55±4.1Highest 41% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	12.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Conway 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 U.S.	$64,385±$8kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Conway and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S.	$314,000±$43kHighest 6% below U.S.
	Conway 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.	$1,095±$141Highest 23% below U.S.
	Conway 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.	$4,087Lowest 31% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.3%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Conway 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	21 minHighest 22% below U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brattleboro and Conway 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	#76 of 120 in NH
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	Conway School District
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	Kennett High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.