Compare towns

Dorset vs Brattleboro vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
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.

MeasureDorsetBrattleboroDummerston
People
Population
2,092
12,122Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±7.5Highest
6% above VT
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
Dorset and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±4.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Highest
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+
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Brattleboro and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Dorset and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$5,700
13% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dorset and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.2%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
4 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minHighest
8% below VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Dorset 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 —
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School 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.