Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Bennington | Brattleboro | Dummerston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
12,122Highest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 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+ | 33.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7k 4% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15k 20% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 9% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944 91% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.