Compare towns
Dummerston vs Harvard vs Lancaster vs Brattleboro
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 homeowners (92.9%).
Harvard has the most expensive homes ($834k median).
Lancaster has the youngest population (median age 43.1).
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 | Harvard | Lancaster | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
6,927 |
8,606 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±4.7 13% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brattleboro and Harvard 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. |
$213,996±$24kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$833,600±$54kHighest 151% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,321±$424 7% below U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±51.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
44.8%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harvard and Lancaster 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 | — | #12 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harvard | Nashoba | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.