Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs South Hero
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).
South Hero has the most expensive homes ($558k 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 | South Hero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090Highest |
1,586Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
| South Hero 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% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest 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%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
| South Hero 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±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126Lowest 13% above VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
| South Hero and Calais 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 |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest 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% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero 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 | South Hero School District |
| 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 |
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.