Compare towns
Danby vs Dummerston vs Wilder vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Wilder | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
2,090 |
3,087Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wells 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder and Wells 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% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Wells 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Dummerston and Danby 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±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$273,200±$18k 14% below VT |
$243,000±$42kLowest 23% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 26% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school 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.