Compare towns
Dummerston vs Bennington vs Putney 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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Bennington | Putney | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
15,249Highest |
2,622 |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.7% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Putney 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% |
13.2% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | #32 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.