Compare towns
Dummerston vs Jay vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Middlesex | Walden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
471Lowest |
1,943 |
1,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
48.8±3.2 13% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.3%±3.9 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%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
45.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Walden 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 |
$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$88,000±$15k 8% 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$238,900±$23k 25% below 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 |
— | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% 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 | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,944 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±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% VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
93.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.