Compare towns

Brookline vs Jay vs Dummerston vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.

MeasureBrooklineJayDummerstonWindham
People
Population
531
471Lowest
2,090Highest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
45.1±2.7
5% above VT
52.1±10.5Highest
21% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Jay and Dummerston 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%
14.2%±7.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
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%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
15.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Windham 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%
45.1%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.2%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.9%±2.5
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Brookline and Jay 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
$74,792±$25kLowest
8% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Dummerston and Windham 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
$234,200±$45kLowest
26% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Dummerston 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±$126Lowest
13% above VT
—
Brookline and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,000
about the VT average
$3,588Lowest
29% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.8%±94.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
40%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
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%
VT: 10.1%
8.7%
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
97%Highest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
2001Highest
25 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
21% above VT
40 minHighest
69% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
20.6%±5.2
VT: 16.9%
27.3%±13.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Jay and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
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.