Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Orange 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Orange has the most homeowners (70%).
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 | Orange | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
7,573Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Orange 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8k 28% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Barre 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. |
$245,900±$18k 26% below U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,093±$58Highest 23% below U.S. |
| Barre and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,192 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brattleboro and Barre 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
9.0Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.