Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Dedham vs Brattleboro

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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroDedhamBrattleboro
People
Population
12,122
25,237Highest
7,657Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
44.6±1.6
15% above U.S.
44.3±5.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Brattleboro and Dedham 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%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brattleboro 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
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.8%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Dedham 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 U.S.
$128,955±$10kHighest
60% above U.S.
$52,734±$12kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
23% below U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$234,600±$20kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,113±$67
21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$7,918Highest
154% above U.S.
$5,490Lowest
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.1%±9.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
21.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1956Highest
24 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±5.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dedham 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 #119 of 282 in MA #33 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — —
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School — —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.