Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Jay vs Ripton vs Dummerston
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 renters (41.5% rent).
Jay has the oldest population (median age 52.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Jay | Ripton | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
471Lowest |
508 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Jay and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | 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 | 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.