Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Richmond vs Sandgate
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Richmond | Sandgate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090 |
4,159Highest |
435Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
| Sandgate and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate and Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Richmond 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 |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
| Richmond 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
| Richmond 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±$126Lowest 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 | $6,586 31% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | — |
| 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.