Compare towns
Dummerston vs Newfields vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Newfields | Westminster | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,023 |
2,999Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% |
46.3%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% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Middlesex 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. |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% 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. |
$273,800±$35kLowest 18% 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. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% 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. |
$4,063Lowest 30% 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% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%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% |
88.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Newfields School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.