Compare towns
Dummerston vs Brighton vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex
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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Brighton | Brattleboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,167Lowest |
12,122Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Brattleboro 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brighton 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above 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 |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Brighton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.