Compare towns
Braintree vs Dummerston vs Putney 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 most affordable homes ($218k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Putney | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6% 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% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% 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±$405 32% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
| Dummerston and Brookfield 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%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 |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 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.