Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Brattleboro has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
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 | Middlesex | Brattleboro | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943 |
7,657Highest |
1,466Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the VT average |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
| Dover and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.8%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,734±$12k 35% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$234,600±$20kLowest 26% below VT |
$332,900±$55k 5% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,113±$67 10% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
| Middlesex and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,490 9% above VT |
$4,510Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.1%±9.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brattleboro and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dover 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.