Compare towns

Norwich vs Brattleboro vs Putney

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).

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.

MeasureNorwichBrattleboroPutney
People
Population
3,640
12,122Highest
2,622Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% below VT
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
Brattleboro and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$79,706±$18k
about the VT average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$300,000±$44k
5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$5,700
13% above VT
$5,313Lowest
5% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
16%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minHighest
19% below VT
19 minHighest
19% below VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
Work from home
21%±5.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town
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.