Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Douglas 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
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Douglas | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
9,207 |
8,412Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Douglas 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Douglas 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. |
$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,503±$697Highest 6% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Douglas and Barre 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. |
$6,338Highest 103% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Barre 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Douglas | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Douglas High School | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
7.2Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.