Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs White River Junction
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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brattleboro and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| 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 19% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| 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 13% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | 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.