Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Middlesex vs Windsor 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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
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 | Middlesex | Windsor | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,554 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 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 |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.