Compare towns
Pownal vs Middlesex vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pownal has the oldest population (median age 49).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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 | Pownal | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,265 |
1,943Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±9.1Highest 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Pownal and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Pownal and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,163±$21k 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,600±$32kLowest 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $944±$139Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,560Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±18.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Pownal and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | #67 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| 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.