Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Windsor
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k 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.
| Measure | Brattleboro | Dummerston | Middlesex | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
2,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8 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%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
40%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%±1.4Lowest 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±$8k 28% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$51,197±$4kLowest 37% 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±$18k 19% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$170,300±$22kLowest 46% 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±$58 13% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,002±$107Lowest 19% below VT |
| 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 |
$4,878 3% below 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% |
31.4%±20 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
22 min 6% 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% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #61 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.