Compare towns
Calais vs Underhill vs Westminster vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Underhill | Westminster | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
3,141Highest |
2,999 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Westminster 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Westminster 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Underhill 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 |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.