Compare towns

Chesterfield vs Barre vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chesterfield has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
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.

MeasureChesterfieldBarreDummerston
People
Population
3,622
8,412Highest
2,090Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.8±8.7Highest
20% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% 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
21.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
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+
28.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
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+
45.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barre and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$102,370±$40kHighest
27% above U.S.
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$373,500±$33kHighest
12% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,324±$1k
6% below U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,344Highest
103% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
18.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Chesterfield 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 #52 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT —
School district Chesterfield School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.