Compare towns
Amherst vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Amherst | Brattleboro | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
12,122Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Amherst and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brattleboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Amherst and Dummerston 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 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.0Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.