Compare towns
Waterbury vs White River Junction vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | Waterbury | White River Junction | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
3,364Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterbury and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kHighest 28% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| White River Junction and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435Highest 28% above VT |
$5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | — | 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 | 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.