Compare towns
Brookline vs Danby vs Dummerston vs Westminster
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%).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Brookline | Danby | Dummerston | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,133 |
2,090 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Danby 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% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 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% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Danby 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% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below 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 |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below 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 |
$794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$916±$126 26% below 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 |
$4,543 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
9.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 21% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.