Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Hancock 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 most kids (19% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hancock | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
1,791Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hancock and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Hancock 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. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Hancock 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. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Hancock 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | 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 |
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.