Compare towns
Dummerston vs Newfane vs Westford 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).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Newfane | Westford | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,456Lowest |
2,290Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
| Westford and Calais 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Westford and Calais 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 |
$1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Westford and Calais 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 |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | 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.