Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Norwich vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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 | Norwich | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
3,640Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich 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 VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Norwich and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 13% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 19% below VT |
19 minHighest 19% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Norwich 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 70 in VT | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Norwich School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.