Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Nelson vs Bennington vs Dummerston
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Nelson | Bennington | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
648Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Dummerston 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% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro and Bennington 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% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bennington 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±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7k 26% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Nelson 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 24% below U.S. |
$1,203±$243 15% below U.S. |
$1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nelson School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.