Compare towns
Braintree vs Dummerston vs Benson vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Benson has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Braintree | Dummerston | Benson | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
2,090Highest |
784Lowest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Braintree and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.