Compare towns
Dummerston vs Monkton vs Sheldon 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).
Monkton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Sheldon has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Monkton | Sheldon | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,999Lowest |
2,267 |
2,290Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Monkton 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest 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% |
20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Monkton 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% |
50% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$78,533±$25kLowest 3% below VT |
$112,750±$12k 39% above VT |
| Monkton and Westford 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 |
$379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,301±$120 5% above VT |
$1,286±$379Lowest 4% 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 |
$5,887 17% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,282Highest 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Dummerston 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton 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 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.