Compare towns
Swanton vs Brookline vs Dummerston vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Swanton has the most renters (35.2% rent).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Swanton | Brookline | Dummerston | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,670Highest |
531Lowest |
2,090 |
1,590 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
45.1±2.7 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
38.8±6.9 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.6%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.7 VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Franklin and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,607±$27kLowest 18% below VT |
$80,833±$16k about the VT average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,917±$21k 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 | $229,000±$15kLowest 28% below VT |
$290,700±$37k 8% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,238±$103 about the VT average |
$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$891±$266Lowest 28% 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 | $4,370 13% below VT |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±21.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Brookline and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 24 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 9% below VT |
28 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 8% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 |
| High school 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.