Compare towns
Dummerston vs Castleton vs Waterville vs Middlesex
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 most kids (21.7% under 18).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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 | Castleton | Waterville | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,453Highest |
680Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Waterville and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Waterville 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | 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.