Compare towns
Dummerston vs Manchester vs Middlesex vs Peru
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 affordable homes ($335k median).
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Manchester | Middlesex | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,486Highest |
1,943 |
434Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
| Manchester 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% |
16.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest 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% |
25.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Manchester 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% |
47.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
| Manchester 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 |
$94,886±$23kLowest 17% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
| Peru and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$400,000±$105k 26% above VT |
| Manchester and Peru 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 |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
| 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 |
$5,923 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,000 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest 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 | — | #37 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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.