Compare towns

Athens vs Dummerston vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k 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.

MeasureAthensDummerstonMiddlesex
People
Population
431Lowest
2,090Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
Athens and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Lowest
9% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,333±$359
8% above VT
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438
8% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dummerston and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.