Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Colrain vs Bennington vs Dummerston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Colrain has the oldest population (median age 49.6).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
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.
| Measure | Brattleboro | Colrain | Bennington | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
1,627Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,513 45% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mohawk Trail | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.