What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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	Sullivan
People
Population	12,122Highest	1,246Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S.	47.1±15Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sullivan 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%	18%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Brattleboro and Sullivan 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%	22.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brattleboro and Sullivan 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%	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Sullivan 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 U.S.	$59,643±$14kHighest 26% below U.S.
	Sullivan 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.	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.
	Brattleboro and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,074±$58Highest 24% below U.S.	$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,700Highest 83% above U.S.	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brattleboro and Sullivan 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%	13.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Brattleboro and Sullivan 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	RSU 24
High school in town	Brattleboro Union High School	Sumner Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.0Lowest	10.5Highest
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.