Compare towns
Dummerston vs Hartford vs Bennington 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 oldest population (median age 45.6).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Hartford | Bennington | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
10,736 |
15,249Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bennington 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%±3 VT: 17.9% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington 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% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Middlesex 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 |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
$59,446±$7kLowest 27% 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 |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
$213,300±$15kLowest 33% 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 |
$1,218±$118 about the VT average |
$1,133±$63Lowest 8% 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 |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Hartford 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
17 minLowest 27% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±4.4 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartford School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
14.7Highest |
— |
| 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.