Compare towns
Newfane vs Orwell vs Dummerston vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Orwell has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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 | Newfane | Orwell | Dummerston | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
1,294 |
2,090Highest |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT |
| Newfane and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
20%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Orwell and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Orwell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$80,833±$16k 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 | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
| Orwell and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% 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 | $5,174Highest about the VT average |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | 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 | — |
| 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.