Compare towns

Dummerston vs Newfields vs Bennington vs Middlesex

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonNewfieldsBenningtonMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
2,023
15,249Highest
1,943Lowest
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%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
44.1±1.8Lowest
13% above U.S.
44.7±2.3
15% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% 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%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
17.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
20.6%±3.7
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%
54.7%
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%
5.2%±2.6
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.
$109,632±$13k
36% 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.
$376,300±$40k
13% 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.
$1,333±$359
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.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
68.8%±14.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bennington and Dummerston 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%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
58.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
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.
1986
6 yrs newer 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.
27 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — — #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.