Compare towns
Dummerston vs Brookline vs Berlin 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%).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Brookline | Berlin | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
531Lowest |
2,880 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Berlin 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% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Berlin 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% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Brattleboro and Berlin 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 |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$86,691±$21k 7% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Berlin 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 |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Brookline and Dummerston 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Brattleboro 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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 | — | — | #16 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.