Compare towns
Middlesex vs Brattleboro vs Castleton vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Brattleboro has the most renters (41.5% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
12,122Highest |
4,453 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #33 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.