Compare towns
Rutland vs Jay vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Brattleboro has the most kids (19% under 18).
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 | Rutland | Jay | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,712Highest |
471Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49±2.1 14% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Jay and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brattleboro and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Rutland and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Jay and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$257,300±$18kHighest 19% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$65Lowest 19% below VT |
— | $1,074±$58Highest 13% below VT |
| Brattleboro and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,657 8% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±8.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Rutland and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 16 minLowest 32% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #51 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rutland City School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Rutland Senior High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 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.