Compare towns
Dummerston vs Sheldon vs Westminster vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
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 | Sheldon | Westminster | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
2,267 |
2,999 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±4.5 6% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Brattleboro 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 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 |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6Highest |
9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.