Compare towns
Danby vs Dummerston vs Manchester vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
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 | Danby | Dummerston | Manchester | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133 |
2,090 |
4,486Highest |
1,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
52.9±5.1 23% above VT |
| Manchester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.4% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
| Manchester and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 5% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
| Dummerston and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,057±$76 14% below VT |
$996±$285 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 | — | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| 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.