Compare towns
Barnard vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Montpelier
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Barnard | Dummerston | Middlesex | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
8,014Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.