Compare towns

Dummerston vs Norwich vs Stowe vs Middlesex

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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
Norwich has the highest household income ($140k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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.

MeasureDummerstonNorwichStoweMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
3,640
5,285Highest
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.8%
VT: +2.8%
+21.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% below VT
46.3±7.6Highest
7% above VT
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
Stowe 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%
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±4.6
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Stowe 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%
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±6.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
Stowe 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%
VT: 43.8%
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
66.7%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.6%±1.6
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Norwich 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
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$93,618±$33kLowest
15% above VT
$109,632±$13k
35% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
$637,500±$76k
101% above VT
$647,800±$157kHighest
105% above VT
$376,300±$40k
19% above VT
Stowe and Norwich 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
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$1,458±$242
18% above VT
$1,333±$359Lowest
8% above VT
Norwich and Stowe 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$7,161
42% above VT
$6,483
29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
24.5%±15.9
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Dummerston and Norwich 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%
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
78.6%
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
11% below VT
19 minLowest
19% below VT
19 min
18% below VT
27 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
21%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 — #1 of 70 in VT — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Norwich School District Stowe Town School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town None in town Stowe High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.3
—
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.