Compare towns

Dummerston vs Barre vs Brattleboro

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonBarreBrattleboro
People
Population
2,090Lowest
8,412
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
Kids under 18
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
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+
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Highest
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+
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Highest
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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$65,625±$7k
19% below VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% below VT
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,093±$58
11% below VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$5,192
3% above VT
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
Brattleboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.3%
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minHighest
11% below VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4
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 — #19 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7Highest
9.0Lowest
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.