Compare towns
Brookline vs Dummerston vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
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 | Dummerston | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Brookline 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfield 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±$16kLowest about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$320,600±$22k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Fairfield 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 |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,056±$441Lowest 14% 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| 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.