Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Middlesex vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Middlesex | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro 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. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
| Rye and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Rye and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Rye 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Middlesex 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.