Compare towns
Castleton vs Chesterfield vs Dummerston vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Chesterfield | Dummerston | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
3,622 |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Chesterfield School District | 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 | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.