Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Epping vs Middlesex 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Epping | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
7,430 |
1,943Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Epping and Middlesex 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. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Epping and Middlesex 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 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. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Epping 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 | Epping High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.3 |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.