Compare towns
Dummerston vs Bennington vs Westmoreland 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 affordable homes ($213k median).
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Westmoreland | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
15,249Highest |
2,237 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
55.3±2.2Highest 42% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland and Dummerston 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%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmoreland and Bennington 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% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.2% 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% |
3.4%±2 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±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$104,444±$28kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Westmoreland 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 |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$351,800±$12k 6% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Calais and Westmoreland 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 |
$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,354±$280 4% 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 | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,643Highest 113% 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% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3% 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. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Westmoreland 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 Our Story | 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.