Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Putnam

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroDummerstonPutnam
People
Population
12,122Highest
2,090
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5Lowest
17% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Lowest
17% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam 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%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Brattleboro 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%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brattleboro and Putnam 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±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
Dummerston and Putnam 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±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
Dummerston and Putnam 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
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Highest
83% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$3,674Lowest
18% 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%
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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
21 minHighest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston 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 — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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 History None yet None yet None yet

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.