Compare towns
Dummerston vs Ira vs Walden
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).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Ira | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
381Lowest |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Ira and Walden 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% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Walden 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% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Walden and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$942±$52 24% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Walden and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Walden 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.