Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Richmond vs Westford
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%).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Middlesex | Richmond | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
4,159Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Richmond 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford 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±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Richmond and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
— | $2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston 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 |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None 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.