What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Rollinsford	Brattleboro
People
Population	2,626Lowest	12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average	45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S.
	Brattleboro and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brattleboro and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Brattleboro and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brattleboro and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,500±$26kHighest 11% above U.S.	$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Rollinsford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,100±$33kHighest 20% above U.S.	$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,809±$394Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,851Highest 120% above U.S.	$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brattleboro and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Rollinsford 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	#94 of 120 in NH	#33 of 70 in VT
School district	Rollinsford School District	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school 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

U.S. 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.