Compare towns

Castleton vs Dummerston vs Meredith

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 homeowners (92.9%).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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.

MeasureCastletonDummerstonMeredith
People
Population
4,453
2,090Lowest
6,758Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
Meredith 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%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
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%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
Dummerston and Meredith 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
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
Dummerston and Meredith 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.
$5,006Highest
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Meredith 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Meredith 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 — #62 of 120 in NH
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town None in town Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.1
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.