Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Underhill vs Worcester vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Underhill | Worcester | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
3,141 |
831Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Worcester and Brattleboro 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Underhill and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 13% below VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
| Barre and Brattleboro 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | — | 10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.