Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Worcester vs Bennington 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Worcester | Bennington | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,122 |
831Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
44.7±2.3Lowest 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Worcester and Brattleboro 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 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%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Bennington 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,513 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 19% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.