Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Ossipee
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 affordable homes ($213k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Bennington | Dummerston | Middlesex | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
4,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dummerston 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%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Bennington 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% 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±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
| 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±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Ossipee and Dummerston 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Bennington 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | — | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| 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 | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.