Compare towns
Berlin vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Berlin | Dummerston | Middlesex | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880 |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
7,969Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4 17% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.2%±3.9 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+ | 26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kLowest 7% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
| Shelburne and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 10% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Middlesex 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — | #8 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.