Compare towns
Brookline vs Dummerston vs Fairlee vs Newfane
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%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Fairlee has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
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 | Fairlee | Newfane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,066 |
1,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
54.4±3.9 26% above VT |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$274,200±$39kLowest 13% below VT |
$284,200±$49k 10% 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 |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,266±$238 about the VT average |
| Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Newfane 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.