Compare towns
Calais vs Brandon vs Barnard vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Brandon has the most affordable homes ($228k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Calais | Brandon | Barnard | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
4,120Highest |
1,211Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.1±3.1Highest 16% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Brandon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±4.1 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Brandon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$64,180±$12kLowest 21% below VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% 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 | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$227,800±$23kLowest 28% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,064±$225Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,241Lowest 16% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.7%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1951Lowest 25 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
29 min 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.9%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 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 | — | #69 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Otter Valley Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.