Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Sheldon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Middlesex | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
2,267Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
| Middlesex 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±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% 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 |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.