Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Sandgate 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 the most homeowners (96.7%).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k 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 | Middlesex | Sandgate | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943 |
435Lowest |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Sandgate 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 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±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below 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±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex 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 | $4,536 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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.