What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the highest household income ($108k).

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	Smithfield
People
Population	12,122Highest	856Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S.	55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%	10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brattleboro and Smithfield 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.	$107,917±$27kHighest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,300±$18kHighest 23% below U.S.	$242,800±$15kLowest 27% below U.S.
	Brattleboro and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S.	$1,109±$358Highest 22% below U.S.
	Smithfield 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.	$2,866Lowest 8% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	42.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brattleboro and Smithfield 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%	5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	33 minHighest 23% above U.S.
Work from home	17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Smithfield 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	—
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	—
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0	—
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.