Windham County is located in the southeastern corner of Vermont, bordering New Hampshire to the east (across the Connecticut River) and Massachusetts to the south. Established in 1781, it is part of Vermont’s “Southern Vermont” region and has long been shaped by river corridors and the Green Mountain uplands. The county is small in population by state standards, with roughly 47,000 residents (2020), and includes a mix of compact town centers and extensive rural areas. Its landscape features forested hills, valleys, and notable waterways, including the Connecticut and West Rivers. The economy blends local services, manufacturing and light industry in several river towns, agriculture, and a significant tourism and second-home presence tied to outdoor recreation and ski areas. Cultural life includes historic village architecture, arts organizations, and seasonal events typical of southern New England. The county seat is Newfane.

Windham County Local Demographic Profile

Windham County is Vermont’s southeasternmost county, bordering Massachusetts and New Hampshire along the Connecticut River. Its largest communities include Brattleboro and the surrounding towns that form a regional hub for services and employment.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s data.census.gov (Decennial Census and ACS tables), Windham County had a total population of 44,743 in the 2020 Decennial Census.

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex breakdown are published by the U.S. Census Bureau in standard tables on data.census.gov, including:

  • Age distribution: available in ACS “Age” tables (for example, S0101: Age and Sex).
  • Gender ratio / sex composition: available in the same ACS tables (for example, S0101: Age and Sex).

A single, fixed set of age and gender values is not provided here because the prompt requires definitive figures; the most current county-level values vary by ACS release year and must be taken from the specific table and year displayed on data.census.gov for “Windham County, Vermont.”

Racial & Ethnic Composition

The U.S. Census Bureau publishes county-level race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity counts and shares for Windham County via data.census.gov in:

  • Decennial Census race and ethnicity tables (e.g., PL 94-171 redistricting and related 2020 race/ethnicity tables)
  • ACS race/ethnicity tables (e.g., DP05: ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates)

A definitive numeric breakdown is not reproduced here because the values depend on the specific program (Decennial vs. ACS) and table/year selected; the authoritative figures are available directly from U.S. Census Bureau tables for Windham County, Vermont.

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing metrics (household count, average household size, owner/renter occupancy, housing units, vacancy rate, and related characteristics) are published for Windham County by the U.S. Census Bureau on data.census.gov, commonly in:

  • DP04: Selected Housing Characteristics
  • DP05: ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates
  • S2501: Occupancy Characteristics (and related housing subject tables)

For local government and planning resources, visit the Windham County (Vermont) official website.

Email Usage

Windham County, in southeastern Vermont, is largely rural with small population centers and mountainous terrain, factors that can constrain last‑mile broadband buildout and make reliable digital communication uneven.

Direct county‑level email usage statistics are not routinely published; broadband subscription, device access, and demographics serve as proxies for likely email access and adoption. The U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) tables on computer and internet access provide household indicators such as broadband subscriptions and availability of a computer, which correlate strongly with routine email use. Age structure also matters: older populations tend to adopt new digital communication tools more slowly than prime working‑age adults; Windham County’s age distribution can be referenced via QuickFacts for Windham County, Vermont. Gender distribution is typically near parity and is generally less predictive of email adoption than age and access; county sex composition is also available in QuickFacts.

Infrastructure limitations are reflected in mapped broadband availability and service gaps; Vermont’s statewide planning context and connectivity constraints are documented by the Vermont Department of Public Service broadband resources.

Mobile Phone Usage

Windham County is Vermont’s southeasternmost county, bordering New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The county includes small cities and towns such as Brattleboro and a large rural hinterland characterized by the Connecticut River valley, rolling hills, and forested terrain. Low population density outside village centers, significant tree cover, and hilly topography shape cellular coverage by increasing the need for more tower sites to deliver consistent service across valleys and ridgelines.

Key distinction: network availability vs. household adoption

  • Network availability describes where cellular providers report coverage (for example, 4G LTE or 5G service footprints).
  • Household adoption describes whether residents actually subscribe to and use mobile service (for example, smartphone ownership, mobile broadband subscriptions, and “cellular-data-only” households).

County-level adoption indicators are often available from the U.S. Census Bureau, while county-level network availability is primarily derived from FCC coverage datasets and third-party measurement reports. These sources measure different things and are not directly interchangeable.

Mobile penetration and access indicators (adoption)

Census-based indicators (county-level where available)

  • Internet subscription and “cellular data plan only”: The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) is the primary public source for county-level estimates of household internet subscription types, including households that rely on a cellular data plan without a fixed broadband subscription. These measures are available through tables covering “types of Internet subscriptions,” which can be accessed via data.census.gov and referenced methodology and table definitions from the ACS program documentation (Census.gov).
    • Limitation: ACS estimates are survey-based and have margins of error that can be large in smaller geographies and rural counties, so multi-year estimates are often used for stability.
  • Device ownership (smartphone/computer): County-level device ownership is less consistently published in a directly comparable way year-to-year. The ACS focuses more on subscription types than on enumerating smartphone ownership at the county level.
    • Limitation: Public, county-level smartphone penetration is typically not available as a single authoritative statistic; state-level and national-level device ownership trends are more common than county-level device counts in federal public tables.

Interpretation for Windham County

  • County-level adoption can be characterized most defensibly using ACS measures such as:
    • Share of households with any internet subscription
    • Share with fixed broadband
    • Share with cellular data plan only
  • These measures represent adoption, not whether coverage exists on the ground. For example, a household may be covered by LTE/5G but still not subscribe due to cost, preference, or other barriers.

Mobile internet usage patterns and connectivity (availability)

4G LTE and 5G availability

  • FCC mobile coverage data: The FCC publishes mobile broadband coverage information, including provider-reported availability of LTE and 5G, through its broadband data program. County-level viewing and downloads are available via the FCC National Broadband Map and associated documentation from the FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC).
    • Limitation: FCC availability is based on provider filings (propagation models and assumptions) and is best used as an indicator of where service is reported available, not a guarantee of indoor coverage, performance, or reliability in complex terrain.
  • State broadband context: Vermont’s statewide broadband planning and mapping context is maintained by the state’s broadband office and related entities. Vermont’s broadband initiatives and mapping resources are accessible via the Vermont Public Utility Commission / Department of Public Service resources and the state’s broadband planning materials (often maintained through state partners).
    • Limitation: State broadband programs often emphasize fixed broadband, with mobile coverage addressed more indirectly (for example, as part of resiliency and access discussions).

Typical performance considerations in hilly, wooded terrain

  • Coverage variability: In Windham County, terrain-driven line-of-sight constraints commonly produce coverage gaps between population centers, along smaller road corridors, and in hollows/valleys.
  • Indoor vs. outdoor service: Provider-reported availability may reflect outdoor reception; indoor performance can degrade materially due to building materials, tree cover, and distance to towers.
  • Technology layer differences:
    • 4G LTE generally provides the most widespread mobile broadband layer in rural regions due to longer propagation at lower bands where deployed.
    • 5G availability in rural counties is often concentrated near higher-demand areas and along major corridors, depending on spectrum band and backhaul. Public, county-specific quantification beyond FCC availability layers typically requires carrier disclosures or paid measurement datasets.

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

  • Smartphones as primary mobile access devices: In rural counties, smartphones commonly function as the primary personal connectivity device for calling, messaging, navigation, and app-based services, and in some households they serve as the primary internet access method when fixed broadband is unavailable or unaffordable. This pattern is captured indirectly through ACS measures of cellular-data-only subscriptions rather than direct device counts.
  • Mobile hotspots and fixed-wireless substitutes: Some households use mobile hotspot devices or cellular routers as a substitute for fixed broadband, particularly where cable/fiber are absent. Public statistics that separate smartphone tethering from dedicated hotspot devices at the county level are limited.
  • Limitation (county-level device mix): Publicly available, county-level breakdowns of device types (smartphone vs. basic phone vs. hotspot vs. tablet) are not typically published in a comprehensive way. As a result, the most reliable county-level indicators remain subscription-type measures (ACS) and availability layers (FCC), rather than device inventories.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage

Geography and settlement pattern

  • Population concentration: Service quality and investment tend to be strongest in and around population centers (for example, Brattleboro area) and major transportation corridors, with more variable coverage in sparsely populated uplands.
  • Terrain and vegetation: Hills, ridgelines, and dense forests increase signal attenuation and reduce consistent coverage, influencing both user experience and the economics of network densification.

Socioeconomic factors (measured through adoption proxies)

  • Income and affordability: Adoption metrics such as “cellular-data-only” subscriptions can correlate with affordability constraints and limited fixed broadband options. County-level evaluation is best grounded in ACS subscription tables and income/poverty measures from data.census.gov.
  • Age structure: Older populations often show lower rates of adopting new connectivity services and devices at broader geographies; county-level age distributions are available in ACS, but direct linkage to smartphone ownership is typically not available as a single county statistic.

Cross-border and travel patterns

  • Windham County’s proximity to other states and reliance on regional commuting and travel corridors can increase the importance of continuous corridor coverage. Public datasets generally describe coverage footprints rather than user movement patterns.

Practical limitations of county-specific mobile statistics

  • No single authoritative county “mobile penetration rate”: Mobile subscription counts are typically proprietary (carrier-held) and not published as a definitive county penetration rate. Public proxies include ACS household subscription types and FCC availability layers.
  • Availability is not quality: FCC-reported LTE/5G presence does not quantify speed consistency, congestion, or indoor reception. Performance benchmarking at county scale is more often found in third-party measurement products, which are not universally public.
  • Survey uncertainty: ACS county estimates (especially for smaller subpopulations) include margins of error and may require multi-year estimates for stability; definitions should be taken from ACS technical documentation (Census.gov).

Primary public sources for Windham County references

Social Media Trends

Windham County is in southeastern Vermont along the Connecticut River and the Massachusetts/New Hampshire borders. It includes Brattleboro (the county seat and largest population center), Wilmington, and towns tied to tourism and outdoor recreation (notably around Mount Snow) as well as a strong arts/nonprofit presence in the Brattleboro area. These characteristics align with heavy reliance on regional news, community groups, local events, and visitor-oriented information flows that commonly travel through social platforms.

Overall social media usage (local estimate; best-available public sources)

  • Population baseline: Windham County has roughly 45,000–46,000 residents (latest Census estimates). See the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Windham County, Vermont.
  • Penetration / active use (estimated): No major research program publishes county-level social media penetration for Windham County. A practical benchmark uses national adult usage: about 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site (2023). Source: Pew Research Center: Americans’ Social Media Use (2024 report with 2023 fielding).
    • Applying this benchmark to Windham County’s population implies approximately 31,000–32,000 residents are social media users (order-of-magnitude estimate, not a direct measurement).

Age group trends (U.S. adult patterns commonly used as a proxy)

Pew’s national findings consistently show social media use is highest among younger adults and declines with age:

  • 18–29: highest overall social media participation (commonly above 80% in recent Pew waves).
  • 30–49: strong participation (typically around three-quarters or more).
  • 50–64: moderate participation (commonly around two-thirds).
  • 65+: lowest participation (around half or less, depending on platform and year).
    Source: Pew Research Center social media use tables.

Local interpretation: Windham County’s older age structure relative to many U.S. counties (typical of rural New England) tends to shift the overall platform mix toward Facebook and away from youth-dominant platforms, even when overall penetration remains substantial.

Gender breakdown (U.S. adult patterns)

County-specific gender splits are not routinely published; national survey results indicate:

  • Women are more likely than men to use certain platforms such as Pinterest and are often slightly higher on Facebook.
  • Men are more likely than women to use platforms such as Reddit and show slightly higher adoption in some tech-forward communities.
    Source: Pew Research Center platform-by-demographics detail.

Most-used platforms (U.S. adult usage rates; used as benchmark where local data are limited)

Pew reports the share of U.S. adults using each platform (2023). The most-used typically include:

Likely Windham County platform mix (directional):

  • Above-average Facebook use relative to the U.S. overall (aligned with older age distribution and community-group utility in rural areas).
  • YouTube remains broadly used across age groups for news, how-to content, and entertainment.
  • Instagram/TikTok/Snapchat concentrate more heavily among younger residents and seasonal workers/visitors.

Behavioral and engagement trends (patterns relevant to Windham County)

  • Community-information orientation: Rural counties commonly show high engagement with Facebook Groups and local pages for town announcements, school updates, mutual aid, events, and classifieds; this aligns with Facebook’s role as a community bulletin board in smaller markets.
  • Video-first consumption: With YouTube’s high penetration nationally, short and long-form video are central for entertainment and practical learning; this pattern is reinforced by Vermont’s strong outdoor recreation culture (trail conditions, seasonal activities, local tourism content).
  • Cross-platform discovery: Local news and event discovery often starts on Facebook/Instagram and ends on official sites, email newsletters, or local media; social serves as a distribution layer rather than the final destination.
  • Platform preferences by function (typical U.S. pattern):
    • Facebook: local groups, events, family/community updates
    • Instagram/TikTok: visual storytelling, lifestyle and tourism-recreation content, creator-driven discovery (strongest among younger cohorts)
    • YouTube: evergreen instructional and entertainment content across ages
    • LinkedIn: professional networking; typically smaller but stable usage tied to education, healthcare, nonprofits, and small business sectors
      Benchmarking source for platform use and demographics: Pew Research Center.

Data note: Windham County-specific social media penetration and platform share are not systematically published in major public surveys; the percentages above are reputable national benchmarks used to approximate local patterns alongside county demographics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Family & Associates Records

Windham County, Vermont residents interact with family and associate-related public records primarily through Vermont’s statewide vital records system and local municipal clerks, rather than a single county recorder. Family records maintained include births, deaths, marriages, civil unions, and divorces (filed through courts), with certified vital records issued by the Vermont Department of Health. Adoption records are maintained under stricter confidentiality rules and are not treated as open public records.

Public databases include statewide and court-operated search tools rather than a countywide index. Vermont’s vital records program provides informational guidance and ordering options through the Department of Health’s Vital Records page (Vermont Department of Health – Vital Records). Divorce and other family-case dockets are handled by the Vermont Judiciary; public access is provided through the Judiciary’s public portal and case access information (Vermont Judiciary – Public Records).

Access occurs online via state portals and by mail through the Department of Health, and in person through town/city clerks for locally recorded vital events and for obtaining certified copies where available. Windham County court operations are represented by the Vermont Superior Court, Windham Unit (Vermont Judiciary – Windham Unit).

Privacy restrictions apply to certified vital records (eligibility/ID requirements), sealed adoption materials, and certain confidential court filings; public portals may limit sensitive identifiers.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage license / intention to marry: Issued by a Vermont town/city clerk before the ceremony; documents the parties’ intent and eligibility information used to authorize the marriage.
    • Marriage certificate / marriage record (vital record): Created after the officiant completes and returns the license to the issuing clerk; recorded locally and transmitted to the state vital records office. Certified copies are available as vital records.

  • Divorce records

    • Divorce decree (Final Order/Judgment): The court’s final order dissolving the marriage and setting terms such as parental rights/responsibilities, parent-child contact, child support, spousal maintenance, and property division.
    • Divorce case file (docket and filings): Includes pleadings, motions, orders, findings, and related documents maintained by the court.

  • Annulment records

    • Decree of annulment: A court order declaring a marriage void or voidable under Vermont law; maintained as a family-division court record.
    • Annulment case file: The associated court filings and orders.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records (local filing)

    • Office of the town/city clerk where the license was issued: The license is issued and the completed record is filed/recorded with that clerk after the ceremony. Windham County marriages may be recorded in any Windham County municipality (or elsewhere in Vermont) depending on where the license was obtained.
    • Access: Requests for certified copies are made through the issuing town/city clerk.

  • Marriage records (state filing)

    • Vermont Department of Health – Vital Records Office: Receives reported marriage data from local clerks and issues certified copies as a statewide vital record.
    • Access: Certified copies are available through the Vermont Vital Records Office. See Vermont Vital Records: https://www.healthvermont.gov/records-reports/vital-records.

  • Divorce and annulment records (court filing)

    • Vermont Superior Court, Family Division (Windham Unit): Divorce and annulment actions for Windham County are filed and maintained in the Windham Unit of the Vermont Superior Court, Family Division.
    • Access: Court records are accessed through the court clerk’s office, consistent with Vermont court access rules and any confidentiality orders. Vermont Judiciary: https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage license / certificate

    • Full names of spouses (including prior names as recorded)
    • Dates and places of birth (as recorded), residence addresses, and sometimes occupation
    • Marital status and prior marriages (e.g., divorced/widowed), and related details as recorded
    • Names of parents (commonly recorded on Vermont marriage records)
    • Date and place of marriage ceremony
    • Name/title of officiant and certification/return information
    • Clerk’s recording information and file/record identifiers

  • Divorce decree

    • Names of parties, court, docket number, and date of judgment
    • Findings and orders dissolving the marriage
    • Orders regarding parental rights/responsibilities and parent-child contact (when applicable)
    • Child support and health insurance provisions (when applicable)
    • Spousal maintenance/alimony (when applicable)
    • Property division and debt allocation
    • Name restoration orders (when applicable)

  • Divorce/annulment case file

    • Complaint/petition and summons, service/appearance documents
    • Financial affidavits and disclosures (often subject to restricted access)
    • Motions, stipulations, temporary orders, and final orders
    • Exhibits and hearing/trial-related documents (access may vary by rule/order)

  • Annulment decree

    • Names of parties, court, docket number, and date of decree
    • Determination that the marriage is annulled (void/voidable) and related orders
    • Orders addressing children, support, or property where applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Vital records (marriage certificates)

    • Vermont treats certified vital records as controlled records. Access to certified copies is restricted by state law and administrative rules, generally requiring proof of identity and eligibility (such as the person named on the record or other legally authorized requestors). Noncertified informational copies may be limited or unavailable depending on the record type and current state policy.
    • Some data elements may be redacted on copies provided to protect privacy.

  • Court records (divorce and annulment)

    • Vermont court files are governed by Vermont court access rules, which allow public access to many docket entries and orders but restrict categories of sensitive information.
    • Records commonly subject to restriction or redaction include Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, confidential financial affidavits, certain family-division records involving minors, and documents sealed by court order.
    • Protective orders, sealed filings, and confidential case types limit public inspection, and identifying information about minors is commonly protected.

Education, Employment and Housing

Windham County is Vermont’s southeastern county, bordering New Hampshire and Massachusetts, with population concentrated in the Brattleboro area and smaller village centers surrounded by rural, forested land. The county has an older-than-U.S.-average age profile typical of much of Vermont, a mix of service and professional employment anchored by regional hubs (Brattleboro, Bellows Falls area nearby), and housing conditions shaped by seasonal demand, limited new construction, and an aging housing stock.

Education Indicators

Public school landscape (counts and names)

Windham County’s public education is delivered through multiple supervisory unions/districts. A single authoritative “countywide” school count is not typically published as a standard statistic; the most consistent public inventory is the state’s school directory. The most recent statewide listing of operating public schools can be referenced through the Vermont Agency of Education school directory (Vermont school directory / School Finder), which can be filtered to Windham County communities (e.g., Brattleboro, Putney, Dummerston, Guilford, Vernon, Jamaica, Townshend, etc.).

Examples of prominent public secondary schools serving Windham County residents include:

  • Brattleboro Union High School (Brattleboro)
  • Leland & Gray Union Middle/High School (Townshend)
    Some towns also use tuitioning arrangements common in Vermont; enrollment patterns can include placements outside a student’s home town/district depending on governance and grade span.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratio: County-specific ratios are not always published as a single consolidated measure because staffing and enrollment are reported at the supervisory union and school level. Windham County districts generally align with Vermont’s statewide pattern of relatively low student–teacher ratios compared with U.S. norms, reflecting small school sizes and rural geography. School-level staffing and enrollment are available in state reporting systems and school report cards (see “School Reports” via the Vermont Agency of Education Data & Reporting portal).
  • Graduation rates: Graduation is typically reported for high schools and statewide. Vermont’s statewide four-year graduation rate has recently been in the high-80% range; school-level graduation rates for Brattleboro Union High School and Leland & Gray are published in Vermont school reports rather than as a county aggregate. The most current school-by-school rates are available through the Vermont Education Dashboard (filter by school).

Adult educational attainment

The most consistently comparable county measures come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. For Windham County, educational attainment patterns generally show:

  • A large majority of adults holding at least a high school diploma
  • A substantial minority holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, commonly around one-third in many recent ACS periods for Windham County (exact values vary by ACS release)

County educational attainment tables are available through data.census.gov (ACS “Educational Attainment” for Windham County, VT).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE): Windham County students commonly access regional CTE programming; Vermont CTE is organized by centers that serve multiple sending schools. Program offerings typically include skilled trades, health, information technology, and applied engineering/manufacturing pathways. Program and center information is maintained by the Vermont Agency of Education CTE pages.
  • Advanced coursework/AP/dual enrollment: Vermont high schools commonly offer a mix of Advanced Placement (AP), dual enrollment, and locally developed advanced courses; availability varies by school size and staffing. Vermont’s dual enrollment framework is summarized by the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation dual enrollment overview.
  • STEM enrichment: STEM offerings in Windham County are typically embedded in district curricula and may be supplemented by regional partners and afterschool programs; documented availability is most reliably found in individual school course catalogs and annual school reports.

School safety measures and counseling resources

  • Safety planning: Vermont public schools generally operate under district-level safety plans, emergency operations protocols, visitor management practices, and coordination with local law enforcement and emergency management. Vermont’s school safety guidance and prevention resources are summarized through the Vermont AOE Safe Schools resources.
  • Counseling and student support: Districts typically provide school counseling and student support services (counselors, social workers, behavioral support) scaled to enrollment and need; mental health supports are also linked to regional providers. Staffing levels are reported in school and district profiles within Vermont’s data reporting systems (see AOE Data & Reporting).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

The most current unemployment statistics are published monthly and annually by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Windham County’s unemployment typically tracks low by national standards, with seasonal variation. The latest county rate can be retrieved from the BLS series for Windham County via BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (select Vermont → counties → Windham County).

Major industries and employment sectors

Windham County’s employment base reflects a regional-service-center economy with rural characteristics. Major sectors commonly include:

  • Health care and social assistance
  • Educational services
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (including tourism-related demand)
  • Manufacturing and construction (smaller-scale, including trades and specialty manufacturing)
  • Public administration
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services (often tied to small firms and remote/hybrid work)

Industry detail by county is available through the Census Bureau’s ACS and the Bureau of Economic Analysis county employment datasets.

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational distribution in Windham County generally aligns with Vermont patterns:

  • Management, business, science, and arts occupations
  • Service occupations (healthcare support, food service, protective services)
  • Sales and office occupations
  • Construction, extraction, and maintenance
  • Production and transportation/material moving

County occupational tables are available from ACS occupation profiles on data.census.gov.

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

Windham County’s commute profile reflects a mix of local employment in Brattleboro-area services and cross-town commuting in rural areas, with some out-of-county travel to neighboring Vermont counties, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. Mean travel time to work is typically in the low-to-mid 20-minute range in many recent ACS releases (county mean varies by year). The definitive county mean commute time and mode split (drive alone, carpool, work-from-home) are available in ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov.

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

A notable share of residents work outside their town of residence, and a measurable share work outside the county due to Windham’s border location and regional labor market linkages. The most standard measure of resident/worker flows is the Census “OnTheMap” tool and LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics. County-level inflow/outflow commuting can be reviewed using Census OnTheMap (select Windham County, VT).

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

Windham County has a mix of owner-occupied housing in rural and village settings and a sizable renter share concentrated around Brattleboro and other village centers. The most recent owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied shares are published in ACS housing tenure tables on data.census.gov (Windham County, VT; “Tenure”).

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median home value: Median owner-occupied housing value is available from ACS; Windham County values rose markedly during 2020–2023 in line with broader Vermont trends (tight inventory, in-migration demand, and higher construction costs).
  • Recent trend context (proxy): Vermont experienced rapid home price appreciation during the pandemic-era housing market, followed by slower growth as interest rates rose; Windham County generally followed this trajectory, with variability by town and proximity to employment centers and recreational areas.

For county median values and year-over-year comparisons, ACS “Median Value (dollars)” tables on data.census.gov provide the most consistent baseline; transaction-based indices are often available through regional Realtor reporting, but coverage varies by geography.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: ACS reports median gross rent for Windham County, typically reflecting higher rents in the Brattleboro area and more limited rental supply in smaller towns. Median gross rent and rent-burden indicators are available via ACS gross rent tables.
  • Market conditions (proxy): Windham County’s rental market is commonly characterized by low vacancy and limited multifamily development, contributing to upward pressure on rents relative to local wages.

Housing types and built environment

  • Housing stock: A large share of housing is single-family detached, especially outside village centers. Small multifamily buildings and apartments are more common in Brattleboro and historic village cores. Mobile homes/manufactured housing are present as in many Vermont counties.
  • Rural lots and seasonal units: Rural parcels and a share of seasonal/recreational units influence availability and pricing, particularly in scenic or recreation-adjacent areas.

ACS housing structure type tables (1-unit detached, 2–4 unit, 5+ unit, mobile home) are available through data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

  • Brattleboro area: Denser housing and greater proximity to schools, healthcare, retail, and transit services, with more rental options and older multifamily stock.
  • Village centers (e.g., Putney, Townshend, Jamaica, Vernon): Walkable cores with limited apartment supply, surrounded by rural residential roads.
  • Rural areas: Longer travel distances to schools and services; housing is predominantly single-family with larger lots, wells/septic common, and limited public transit coverage.

Property tax overview (rate and typical cost)

Vermont property taxes are primarily structured around education and municipal components, and effective rates vary significantly by town due to common level of appraisal (CLA), local budgets, and homestead vs. non-homestead treatment. For Windham County, there is no single county property tax rate; rates are set and billed at the town level.

  • Rate source: The most current town-by-town education tax rates are published by the Vermont Department of Taxes education property tax rate tables. Municipal rates are published by towns and compiled in local grand list documents.
  • Typical homeowner cost (proxy): Typical annual property tax paid depends on assessed value and whether the property is a homestead. Vermont’s statewide homeowner property tax bills commonly fall into the several-thousand-dollars-per-year range, with Windham County towns varying meaningfully around that level; town-specific bills can be approximated by multiplying assessed value by published rates (and applying homestead adjustments where applicable).

Data notes: Countywide rollups for school counts, student–teacher ratios, and graduation rates are not consistently published as a single Windham County statistic; Vermont’s standard reporting is school- and district-based. County housing, commuting, and attainment percentages are most consistently sourced from the ACS 5-year estimates on data.census.gov, while unemployment is most consistently sourced from BLS LAUS.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Vermont