Compare towns
Dummerston vs Jay vs Chester 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
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 | Jay | Chester | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
471Lowest |
2,992 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
49.7±4.7 15% above VT |
45.6±4.5Lowest 6% above VT |
| Jay and Chester 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% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Chester 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Dummerston 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
9.0Highest |
| 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.