Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Derby vs Middlesex vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derby has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Derby | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
4,537 |
1,943Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
51.6±2.1Highest 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Derby 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 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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 |
$80,250±$8k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$225,000±$10k 29% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,096±$118 11% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Middlesex and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 13% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Derby 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
32 minHighest 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #52 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.