Compare towns
Dummerston vs Saco vs Williston 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%).
Saco has the youngest population (median age 44.9).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Saco | Williston | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
20,819Highest |
10,144 |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 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% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% 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%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Saco 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. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Williston 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 |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,700Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Williston 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | — | #38 of 133 in ME | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Saco Public Schools | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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 History | 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.