Compare towns
Dummerston vs Benson vs Monkton vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Benson | Monkton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
784Lowest |
1,999 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.1±5.4 9% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Benson and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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 VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Benson 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 25% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Monkton 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 6% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| 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 10% below VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.