Compare towns
Brookline vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Swanton
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).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k 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.
| Measure | Brookline | Dummerston | Putney | Swanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,090 |
2,622 |
2,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
37.8±4.7 12% below 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±2.7 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$66,607±$27kLowest 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,238±$103 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.