Compare towns
Brookline vs Westminster vs Dummerston vs Putney
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%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Westminster | Dummerston | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,090 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% 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 |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below 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 |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 21% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.