Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Fairlee 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 kids (19% under 18).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 63.5).
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 | Fairlee | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
54Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
63.5±7.6Highest 47% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
0%±52.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Barre 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% |
37%±54.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0%±26.2Lowest 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±$8k 28% below VT |
$21,071±$13kLowest 74% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
| Barre and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$277,500±$28kHighest 12% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Fairlee and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,057±$620Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Brattleboro 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 |
$3,750Lowest 26% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
100%±55.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8% VT: 10.1% |
50%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.5% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT |
1942Lowest 34 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 19% below VT |
— | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
23.5%±30.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairlee 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | — | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.