Compare towns
Dummerston vs Middlesex vs Waitsfield vs Williston
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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Waitsfield | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,943 |
1,918Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Dummerston 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821Lowest about the VT average |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Williston 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% |
6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | — | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.