Compare towns
Calais vs Chittenden vs Dummerston vs Barnard
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).
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Calais | Chittenden | Dummerston | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,318 |
2,090Highest |
1,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Chittenden 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% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest 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% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Barnard 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% |
51.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Chittenden 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 |
$106,250±$28kHighest 31% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% above VT |
| Chittenden and Dummerston 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 |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% 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 |
$1,125±$488Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% 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 |
$5,346 6% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
93.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.