Compare towns
Strafford vs Calais vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Strafford | Calais | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,372Lowest |
1,713 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Strafford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Calais and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$5,700Lowest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min about the VT average |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Strafford School District | 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.