Compare towns
Brookline vs Dummerston vs Surry vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most renters (15.1% rent).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Surry | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,090 |
1,052 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.7±5.1Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Surry and Westminster 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 U.S. average |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,125±$25kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Surry and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$331,400±$23k about the U.S. average |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,955±$374Highest 38% above U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Surry and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,384Highest 105% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.