Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Sheldon vs Wallingford
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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Wallingford has the most renters (17.5% rent).
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 | Sheldon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943Lowest |
2,267 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.9±10.8Highest 6% above VT |
| Wallingford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Dummerston 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Wallingford 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Sheldon 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 |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44kLowest 17% below VT |
| 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% 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 |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Wallingford 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% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None 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.