Compare towns
Dummerston vs Natick 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%).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Natick | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
36,873Highest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Natick 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% |
20.4%±1.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Natick 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±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,914Highest 186% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Natick 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 | — | #48 of 282 in MA | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Natick | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Natick High | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.