Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Bennington

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroBrattleboroDummerstonBennington
People
Population
12,122
7,657
2,090Lowest
15,249Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
44.3±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
20%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
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+
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.8%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
47.2%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6Highest
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
$58,241±$8k
28% below VT
$52,734±$12kLowest
35% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$59,446±$7k
27% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
$234,600±$20k
26% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
$1,113±$67
10% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$5,490
9% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
46.1%±9.5
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%
VT: 10.1%
21.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
1961
15 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
21 minHighest
11% below VT
17 min
27% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
11.8%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4
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 #33 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT — #58 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School — None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
— —
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.