Compare towns
Wilder vs Brattleboro vs Barnard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k 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 | Wilder | Brattleboro | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
12,122Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
42.4±6Lowest about the VT average |
| Brattleboro and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
| Barnard and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnard and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| 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.