Compare towns

Brookline vs Castleton vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).

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.

MeasureBrooklineCastletonDummerston
People
Population
531Lowest
4,453Highest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.5%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
38.3±4.3Lowest
11% below VT
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±6
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±6.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20.7%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.1%
VT: 43.8%
37.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6
VT: 7%
19.3%±1.8Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,833±$16k
about the VT average
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$290,700±$37k
8% below VT
$224,800±$71kLowest
29% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,732±$232Highest
40% above VT
$1,137±$195Lowest
8% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000Highest
about the VT average
$3,167Lowest
37% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7
VT: 48.4%
67.7%±21.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Castleton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.2%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
21% above VT
19 minLowest
17% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Brookline 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 — #39 of 70 in VT —
School district — Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.