Compare towns
Dummerston vs Castleton vs Westford vs Monkton
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 most affordable homes ($225k median).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Westford | Monkton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,453Highest |
2,290 |
1,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
| Monkton 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%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±2.8 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
| Monkton and Westford 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
$5,887 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Monkton 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% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton 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 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.