Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Thornton 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Middlesex | Thornton | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
2,799 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Thornton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Thornton 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| 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 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Brattleboro 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Middlesex 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 | — | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thornton 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 |
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.