Compare towns

Calais vs Newfane vs Brattleboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).

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.

MeasureCalaisNewfaneBrattleboro
People
Population
1,713
1,456Lowest
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
45.6±4.5
6% above VT
Kids under 18
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
Newfane and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,625±$27kHighest
24% above VT
$66,719±$21k
18% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Calais and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,266±$238
about the VT average
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
Calais and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$5,174Lowest
about the VT average
$5,700
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Newfane and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
same as VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
32% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Calais 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 West River Valley Union Education District #72A Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.