Compare towns
Dummerston vs Bennington vs Newfields 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Dummerston | Bennington | Newfields | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
15,249Highest |
2,023 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington 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% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Calais 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. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Calais 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. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Calais 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% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Newfields 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Newfields School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.7 |
— | — |
| 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.