Compare towns
Dummerston vs Halifax vs Middlesex vs Reading
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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 | Halifax | Middlesex | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
847 |
1,943 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
44.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Reading 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 |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% 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 |
$267,500±$21kLowest 16% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Middlesex 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 |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Halifax 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% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Middlesex 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 | Halifax School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| 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.