Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Barnard vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Barnard has the most homeowners (85.4%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Essex Junction | Barnard | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803 |
1,211Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Barnard and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$402,600±$71k 27% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Essex Junction and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.