Compare towns
Castleton vs Chester vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Castleton | Chester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,992 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Chester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$232,900±$44k 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,262 15% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Chester 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.