Compare towns
Dummerston vs Busti vs Brattleboro vs Middlesex
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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Busti | Brattleboro | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
7,452 |
12,122Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
46.6±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Busti 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$67,292±$9k 17% below U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$164,600±$12kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,085±$106 23% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$3,876Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Busti 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% |
14.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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 History | None yet | 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.