Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Calais vs Danby vs Dummerston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroCalaisDanbyDummerston
People
Population
12,122Highest
1,713
1,133Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5
6% above VT
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
52.6±4.8Highest
22% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Danby and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Dummerston 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%
21.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±2.6
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro and Danby 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%
55.4%
VT: 43.8%
34.8%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.9
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais 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±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
$77,321±$13k
5% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$390,300±$36kHighest
23% above VT
$272,400±$41k
14% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58
13% below VT
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$794±$166Lowest
36% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
13% above VT
$6,586Highest
31% above VT
$4,543
10% below VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.4%±34.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
9.4%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
89.3%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
19% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Calais 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 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— — —
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.