Compare towns
Plainfield vs Jay vs Dummerston vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the most renters (19.1% rent).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($339k 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 | Plainfield | Jay | Dummerston | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314 |
471Lowest |
2,090Highest |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Jay and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 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+ | 21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest 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+ | 48.2% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
| Dummerston and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Brookfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,153±$103 7% below VT |
— | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806Highest 5% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
37 min 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.