Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Bellows Falls 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%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Bellows Falls | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803 |
2,891Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Bellows Falls 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% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brattleboro and Essex Junction 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | — | 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.