Compare towns
Brattleboro vs St. Albans vs Dummerston vs Barre
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
St. Albans has the youngest population (median age 38.7).
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.
| Measure | Brattleboro | St. Albans | Dummerston | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
6,954 |
2,090Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| 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±$8k 28% below VT |
$57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.8% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Brattleboro 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | 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 | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | None in town | Spaulding Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— | 10.7 |
| 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.