Compare towns
Dummerston vs Lowell vs Calais 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 people working from home (25.9%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Lowell | Calais | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
118,368Highest |
1,713Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Calais 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 26% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lowell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.