Compare towns
Plainfield vs Vernon 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 oldest population (median age 48.1).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($285k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Vernon | Dummerston | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,314Lowest |
2,709Highest |
2,090 |
1,486 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.6±5.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Plainfield and Brookfield 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% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 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% |
26.6%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% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brookfield and Vernon 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 |
$85,682±$9k 6% above 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 |
$285,100±$25kLowest 10% 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 |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,806 5% below VT |
$5,191Highest 3% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 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% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 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 |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest 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 | — | #30 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Vernon 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.