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 people working from home (25.9%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 48.4).
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
8,005
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
0%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
48.4±4.2Highest
12% above VT
45.6±4.5Lowest
6% above VT
Barre and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±3.3Lowest
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%
21.7%±3.5Lowest
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%
39.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.5%±1.2
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
$93,210±$9k
15% above VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Dummerston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$281,400±$13k
11% below VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,524±$399Highest
24% above VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
Barre and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$4,737
6% below VT
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
42.4%±20.4Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
2.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.4%
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
11% below VT
23 minHighest
4% below VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.7%±4.5Lowest
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 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School
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.