Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Dummerston vs Salem
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 expensive homes ($335k median).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Salem 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% |
16.2%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%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%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Salem 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. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 24% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest 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% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Salem 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Highest |
— | 8.5Lowest |
| 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.