Compare towns
Brookfield vs Dummerston vs Jay vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
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 | Brookfield | Dummerston | Jay | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,486 |
2,090Highest |
471Lowest |
1,314 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±5.9 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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+ | 29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below 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 | $339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,560 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 55% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | — |
| High school 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.