Compare towns

Brookfield vs Dummer vs Chelsea

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Chelsea has the most kids (21.9% 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.

MeasureBrookfieldDummerChelsea
People
Population
1,486Highest
299Lowest
1,223
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±5.9Lowest
21% above U.S.
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
54.1±12.1Highest
39% above U.S.
Chelsea and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.4%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Chelsea and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.7%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.4%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Brookfield and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
45.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
16.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
29.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,500±$23kHighest
22% above U.S.
$91,250±$21k
13% above U.S.
$65,913±$13kLowest
18% below U.S.
Brookfield and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$339,300±$15kHighest
about the U.S. average
$242,200±$51kLowest
27% below U.S.
$260,900±$39k
22% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$975±$306Lowest
31% below U.S.
—
$1,524±$467Highest
8% above U.S.
Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,560Highest
46% above U.S.
$2,898Lowest
7% below U.S.
$3,762
21% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.4%±27.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.3%±33.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
5 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967Lowest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
27.3%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±7.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Brookfield and Chelsea 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 — First Branch Unified School District #82
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.