Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Williston 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 affordable homes ($257k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroWillistonDummerston
People
Population
12,122Highest
10,144
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
Kids under 18
19%±2.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Williston 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%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
54.9%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston 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 VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
Williston 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±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
19% below VT
20 min
16% below VT
21 minHighest
11% below VT
Work from home
17.9%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 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

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.