Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Hampton Beach vs Dummerston vs Barre

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureBrattleboroHampton BeachDummerstonBarre
People
Population
12,122Highest
2,605
2,090Lowest
8,412
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5
17% above U.S.
60.4±2.4Highest
55% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8
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%
33.7%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Brattleboro and Barre 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.
$82,557±$17k
about the U.S. average
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
Dummerston and Hampton Beach 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.
$508,900±$76kHighest
53% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,375±$130
about the U.S. average
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,093±$58
23% below U.S.
Dummerston and Hampton Beach 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.
$6,115Highest
96% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
61.7%±20.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hampton Beach and Brattleboro 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%
8.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955
25 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
26.9%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampton Beach 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 — — #19 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School — None in town Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
— —
10.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.