Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Thetford vs Calais
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 people working from home (28.4%).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Thetford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943 |
2,813Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest 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%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Thetford 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 |
$88,045±$16kLowest 8% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above 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±$40k 19% above VT |
$329,500±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais 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±$359 8% above VT |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Calais 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% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 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 | — | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Thetford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.