What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).

Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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	Hanover
People
Population	12,122Highest	8,479Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S.	$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S.	$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S.	$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S.
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%	72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover 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%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	62.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 28% below U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	—
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.