Compare towns
Dummerston vs Castleton vs Webster vs Middlesex
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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Webster | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,453Highest |
2,227 |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Webster 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% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30k about the U.S. average |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Webster 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Webster 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% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.