Compare towns

Bennington vs Dummerston vs Mapleton vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonDummerstonMapletonMiddlesex
People
Population
15,249Highest
2,090
1,884Lowest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
41.8±6Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Mapleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
18.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Bennington and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7kLowest
26% below U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$91,731±$25k
14% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15k
36% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$191,800±$23kLowest
42% below U.S.
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63
20% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$610±$277Lowest
57% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513
45% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$1,789Lowest
43% below U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
16.7%±10.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
15.1%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex 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 #58 of 70 in VT — — —
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 RSU 79/MSAD 01 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
— — —
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.