What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the highest household income ($83k).

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	Salem
People
Population	12,122Highest	2,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S.	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.
	Salem 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 U.S.: 22%	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brattleboro and Salem 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%	22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brattleboro and Salem 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%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brattleboro and Salem 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.	$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kHighest 23% below U.S.	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Highest 24% below U.S.	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,700Highest 83% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brattleboro and Salem 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%	17.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Highest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	#376 of 484 in NY
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Highest	8.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.