Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Rockingham
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).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Rockingham has the most renters (38.3% rent).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Rockingham 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 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$70,857±$16kLowest 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$210,900±$14kLowest 33% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,062±$101Lowest 14% below VT |
| 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 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,887 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Rockingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Rockingham School District |
| 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 |
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.