Compare towns
Montpelier vs Stratton vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).
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 | Montpelier | Stratton | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014 |
532Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Montpelier and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Stratton and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Montpelier and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.