Compare towns
Colchester vs Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most renters (25.9% rent).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Colchester | Dummerston | Middlesex | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
10,769 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
41.6±2.5 3% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
17.6%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 17.9%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
16%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9kLowest 21% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$118,977±$10kHighest 47% above VT |
| Milton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25kHighest 25% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$372,500±$20k 18% above VT |
| Colchester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 19% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,536±$257Highest 24% above VT |
| Milton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471 9% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,610 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.1%±20.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Milton and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
3.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1985 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 15% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±2.9Lowest 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | — | — | #56 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | None in town | Milton Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | — | 9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.