Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Strafford vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Middlesex | Strafford | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943 |
1,372Lowest |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 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% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | — | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Strafford School District | 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 Our Story | 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.