Compare towns
Bennington vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Newfane
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588 |
12,122Highest |
2,090 |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
54.4±3.9Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newfane and Brattleboro 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% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Bennington 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±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$66,719±$21k 17% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington 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±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$284,200±$49k 15% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Newfane 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 |
$1,266±$238 10% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,174 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.9%±79.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfane and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% 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. |
1971 9 yrs older 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 about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
30.8%±12.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 | 6 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.