Compare towns

Dummerston vs Newfields vs Bennington vs Chesterfield

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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).

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.

MeasureDummerstonNewfieldsBenningtonChesterfield
People
Population
2,090
2,023Lowest
15,249Highest
3,622
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%
-1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
46.8±8.7Highest
20% above U.S.
Chesterfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.5%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Chesterfield 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%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
28.8%±7.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Chesterfield and Bennington 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%
45.2%
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%
1.5%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Bennington 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.
$102,370±$40k
27% 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.
$373,500±$33k
12% 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.
$1,324±$1k
6% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,513Lowest
45% above U.S.
$6,344
103% 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%±14.1
U.S.: 51.1%
83.7%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Chesterfield and Bennington 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%
8.6%
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%
83.6%
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.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
21% below U.S.
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
25 min
6% below 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%
18.9%±6.9
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 #52 of 120 in NH
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Newfields School District Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Chesterfield School District
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 6 photos → None yet 6 photos →

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.