Compare towns
Dummerston vs Bennington vs Middlesex 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
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 | Dummerston | Bennington | Middlesex | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
15,249Highest |
1,943Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest 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+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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 25% above VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 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 | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| 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.