Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Brattleboro | Dummerston | Middlesex | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,657Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest 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+ | 47.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 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 | $52,734±$12kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,600±$20kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$67Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
| Webster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,490 76% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.1%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.