Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Mendon 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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Dummerston | Mendon | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
| Mendon 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Mendon 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 |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$97,581±$19kLowest 20% 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 |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% 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 |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,230±$651Lowest about the VT average |
$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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Calais 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.2% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest 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 | 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 |
| 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.