Compare towns
Dummerston vs Westminster vs Williston 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 most kids (21.7% under 18).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Westminster | Williston | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
2,999 |
10,144 |
12,122Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% 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%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| 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 6% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Williston 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | 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.