Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Mapleton 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).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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 | Mapleton | Middlesex | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
1,884Lowest |
1,943 |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Middlesex 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Middlesex 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7k 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Mapleton 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15k 37% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
8.9% 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% |
79.9% 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. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 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. |
28 minHighest 5% 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% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.