What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).

Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	12,122Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,429±$143Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham 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%	15.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.