Compare towns
Brookline vs Plainfield 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
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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.
| Measure | Brookline | Plainfield | Dummerston | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
1,314 |
2,090Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
48.2% 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% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brookline and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% 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±$37kLowest 8% below VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$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 |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,392±$126 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 |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — |
| High school 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.