Compare towns
Dummerston vs Calais vs Highgate vs Chesterfield
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Calais | Highgate | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,713Lowest |
3,528 |
3,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield 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% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Highgate 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. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average |
$102,370±$40kHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield 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 |
$390,300±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Calais and Chesterfield 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 |
$1,408±$392Highest about the U.S. average |
$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 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 | — | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Chesterfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.