Compare towns

Dummerston vs Bennington vs Windsor vs Calais

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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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.

MeasureDummerstonBenningtonWindsorCalais
People
Population
2,090Highest
1,588Lowest
2,060
1,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
42.1±7.8
8% above U.S.
44.6±12.3
15% above U.S.
42±8.6Lowest
8% above U.S.
Dummerston and Windsor 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%
26%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Bennington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Dummerston 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%
33.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
55.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Calais and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$83,875±$7k
4% above U.S.
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
$100,625±$27k
25% above U.S.
Dummerston and Calais 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
$267,300±$15k
20% below U.S.
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
$390,300±$36kHighest
17% above U.S.
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
about the U.S. average
$1,292±$150
9% below U.S.
$1,002±$107Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,408±$392Highest
about the U.S. average
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,944
91% above U.S.
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$6,586Highest
111% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
37.2%±20.6
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49%±38.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Calais and Dummerston 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%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1978Highest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
37 minHighest
40% above U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
31 min
18% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.7%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.4%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Calais 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 — — #61 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Contoocook Valley School District — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town — None in town
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.