Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Mendon vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Brattleboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Dummerston | Mendon | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,090 |
1,113Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Mendon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Mendon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
21 minHighest 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | — | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.