Compare towns
Montpelier vs Windsor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Montpelier | Windsor | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014 |
3,554Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Brattleboro 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% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest 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±$6kHighest about the VT average |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113Highest 6% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$5,209Lowest 3% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1955Highest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
23 minHighest 3% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±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 | #61 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 | 12 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.