Compare towns

Berlin vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

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.

MeasureBerlinBrattleboroDummerston
People
Population
2,880
7,657Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
44.3±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Berlin and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
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+
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.8%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Berlin and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
47.2%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±2.9
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,691±$21k
7% above VT
$52,734±$12kLowest
35% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,600±$31k
14% below VT
$234,600±$20kLowest
26% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,169±$171
5% below VT
$1,113±$67Lowest
10% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
$5,490Highest
9% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.1%±9.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Brattleboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
21.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
3 yrs newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
10% below VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Brattleboro 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 #16 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.