Compare towns
Dummerston vs Calais vs Brattleboro vs Newfane
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 highest household income ($102k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
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 | Calais | Brattleboro | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,713 |
12,122Highest |
1,456Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Calais 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±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$66,719±$21k 18% below VT |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane and Calais 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| 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 |
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| 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.