Compare towns

Dummerston vs Barre vs Sidney vs Middlesex

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k 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.

MeasureDummerstonBarreSidneyMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
8,412Highest
4,790
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
42.2±6.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
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+
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below U.S.
$83,488±$10k
3% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
$376,300±$40kHighest
13% above U.S.
Middlesex and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Dummerston and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1947Lowest
33 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
21% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #19 of 70 in VT #15 of 133 in ME —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center RSU 18 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.