Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Dorset vs Jericho 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroDorsetJerichoBennington
People
Population
12,122
2,092Lowest
5,114
15,249Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5
6% above VT
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
49.7±5.1Highest
15% above VT
44.7±2.3Lowest
4% above VT
Jericho and Dorset 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%
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Jericho 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%
21.9%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
20.2%±4.4Lowest
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%
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
65.3%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
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±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$111,250±$40k
37% above VT
$116,923±$16kHighest
44% above VT
$59,446±$7k
27% below VT
Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$493,100±$38k
56% above VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
$1,731±$111Highest
40% above VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
Jericho and Dorset 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
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$7,318
45% above VT
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5
VT: 48.4%
79.3%±52.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1
VT: 48.4%
Jericho and Dorset 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%
11.2%
VT: 10.1%
0.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1961
15 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
22 min
8% below VT
26 minHighest
10% above VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
21.8%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Jericho 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 — #6 of 70 in VT #58 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town Mt. Mansfield Union High School Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
—
13.0
14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.