Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Hancock vs Middlesex

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 most renters (41.5% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroDummerstonHancockMiddlesex
People
Population
12,122Highest
2,090
1,791Lowest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
53.8±4.5Highest
38% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Lowest
14% above U.S.
Hancock 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%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
30.2%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hancock 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%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex 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.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$95,208±$15k
18% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$436,700±$22kHighest
31% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Hancock and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,208±$650
15% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,884Highest
121% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
32.4%±55.6
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brattleboro and Dummerston 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%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Contoocook Valley School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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
— — —
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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.