Compare towns
Dummerston vs Brookfield vs Castleton vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Brookfield | Castleton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,486Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.