Compare towns
Dummerston vs Castleton vs Worcester 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 highest household income ($102k).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Castleton | Worcester | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,453 |
831Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Worcester 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.