What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newport has the most affordable homes ($179k 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	Newport
People
Population	12,122Highest	4,394Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-2.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT	46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT
	Newport 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 VT: 17.9%	13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brattleboro and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Newport 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%Highest VT: 43.8%	25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Brattleboro and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$58,241±$8kHighest 28% below VT	$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT
	Brattleboro and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kHighest 19% below VT	$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Highest 13% below VT	$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,700Highest 13% above VT	$4,036Lowest 20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	48.2%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Newport and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%	23%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Highest VT: 73.2%	57.6%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 19% below VT	15 minLowest 38% below VT
Work from home	17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9%	16.8%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brattleboro and Newport 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	#63 of 70 in VT
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.