Compare towns
Dummerston vs Manchester vs Wardsboro
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).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k 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 | Manchester | Wardsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,486Highest |
820Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
54.5±6.3Highest 26% above VT |
51.6±7.3 20% above VT |
| Manchester and Wardsboro 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%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Manchester 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% VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.8%±3Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$94,886±$23k 17% above VT |
$62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 |
$454,600±$47kHighest 44% above VT |
$299,300±$47kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,057±$76Lowest 14% below VT |
$1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Dummerston 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 |
$5,923Highest 18% above VT |
$4,345Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.5%±13.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.5%±58 VT: 48.4% |
| Manchester and Wardsboro 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% |
16.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
14 minLowest 39% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 |
| 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 |
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.