What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

Harmony has the most affordable homes ($128k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brattleboro	Harmony
People
Population	12,122Highest	2,344Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.	41.8±7Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Brattleboro and Harmony are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Harmony 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%	17.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	17.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brattleboro and Harmony 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.	$58,600±$11kHighest 27% below U.S.
	Harmony 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±$18kHighest 23% below U.S.	$128,300±$15kLowest 61% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Highest 24% below U.S.	$788±$40Lowest 44% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,700Highest 83% above U.S.	$2,805Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43%±18.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brattleboro and Harmony 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%	9.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#33 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	PANAMA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	PANAMA HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Highest	8.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.