Compare towns

Dummerston vs Bedford vs Brattleboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).

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.

MeasureDummerstonBedfordBrattleboro
People
Population
2,090Lowest
23,746Highest
12,122
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
45±2.2Lowest
16% above U.S.
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bedford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
20.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
63%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Bedford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$167,418±$12kHighest
107% above U.S.
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$612,100±$26kHighest
84% above U.S.
$257,300±$18kLowest
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$2,099±$274Highest
49% above U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$9,803Highest
214% above U.S.
$5,700
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.4%±15.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Bedford and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
21% below U.S.
25 minHighest
4% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bedford 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 — #7 of 120 in NH #33 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Bedford School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Bedford High School Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.5Highest
9.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.