Compare towns
Vernon vs Swanton vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Vernon has the highest household income ($86k).
Swanton has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Vernon | Swanton | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,709 |
2,670Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,682±$9kHighest 6% above VT |
$66,607±$27k 18% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Vernon and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$25kHighest 10% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Vernon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$214Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,191 3% above VT |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
21 minHighest 9% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Vernon 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 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.