Compare towns
Burlington vs Calais vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Burlington is a college town. 32.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Burlington | Calais | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,675Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $444,800±$19kHighest 40% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Burlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,649±$53Highest 34% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
| Burlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,335Highest 46% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±4.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Burlington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 20% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±2.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | #23 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Burlington School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Burlington High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.