Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Elmore 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 most people working from home (17.9%).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroElmoreBarre
People
Population
12,122Highest
964Lowest
8,412
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
45±3.5
4% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
Brattleboro and Elmore 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%
23.4%±9.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Elmore 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%
14.6%±2.6Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
47.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Barre 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
$98,750±$24kHighest
22% above VT
$65,625±$7k
19% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
$315,800±$47kHighest
about the VT average
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below VT
Elmore 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
13% below VT
$1,225±$263Highest
about the VT average
$1,093±$58
11% below VT
Elmore and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$5,066Lowest
about the VT average
$5,192
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
31.8%±65.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3
VT: 48.4%
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
VT: 10.1%
3.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
92.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
29 minHighest
25% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
9.4%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro and Barre 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 — #19 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
—
10.7Highest
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.