Compare towns

Brookline vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Hollis

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).

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.

MeasureBrooklineCastletonDummerstonHollis
People
Population
5,736
4,453
2,090Lowest
8,603Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
49.4±5Highest
27% above U.S.
Hollis and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
21%±4
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.3%±4.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$168,883±$22k
109% above U.S.
Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$675,900±$48kHighest
103% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,598±$302
13% above U.S.
Brookline and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
31.3%±19.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
29%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hollis 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 #23 of 120 in NH #39 of 70 in VT — #8 of 120 in NH
School district Brookline School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town Hollis-Brookline High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
11.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.