Compare towns
Dummerston vs Newfields vs Bennington vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Newfields | Bennington | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,023 |
15,249Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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 26% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,133±$63Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Newfields 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 | — | — | #58 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Newfields School District | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.



