Compare towns

Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Montgomery vs Plainfield

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).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

MeasureDummerstonMiddlesexMontgomeryPlainfield
People
Population
2,090Highest
1,943
1,047Lowest
1,314
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
51.5±11.3Highest
19% above VT
48.1±5.5
12% above VT
Montgomery and Plainfield 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%
21.3%±3.1
VT: 17.9%
15.5%±4.4Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
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%
20.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
33.9%±8.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.1%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
Montgomery 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%
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
52.8%
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Montgomery 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
$109,632±$13kHighest
35% above VT
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below 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
$376,300±$40kHighest
19% above VT
$323,200±$45k
about the VT average
$318,400±$34kLowest
about the VT average
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
$868±$209Lowest
30% below VT
$1,153±$103
7% 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
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$4,326Lowest
14% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.6%±68Highest
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9
VT: 48.4%
Montgomery and Plainfield 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%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
15.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
27 min
17% above VT
37 minHighest
58% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
16%±5.9Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 —
High school 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.