Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Stratton vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Stratton | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
2,090Highest |
532Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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% |
33.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 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±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Stratton and Middlesex 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979Lowest about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest 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 |
| High school 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.