Compare towns

Castleton vs Dummerston vs Lyndeborough 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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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.

MeasureCastletonDummerstonLyndeboroughMiddlesex
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,090
1,616Lowest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
50±3.2Highest
29% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Lyndeborough 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
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Lyndeborough 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%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$116,964±$17kHighest
45% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Middlesex 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.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$390,900±$26kHighest
17% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Middlesex 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.
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,482±$457Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Lyndeborough and Dummerston 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
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$7,133Highest
129% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Lyndeborough 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%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5
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 — — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District 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 History 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.