Compare towns
Dummerston vs Dover vs Franklin 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Franklin has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Dover | Franklin | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,466Lowest |
1,590 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Dover 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$79,917±$21k about the VT average |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Franklin 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 |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
$247,400±$66kLowest 22% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Franklin 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Dover 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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.