Compare towns
Dummerston vs Orwell vs Whiting 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Orwell has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
Whiting has the most renters (34.6% rent).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Orwell | Whiting | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,294 |
532Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47.5±7Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Orwell 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% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 25% above VT |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$335,600±$25k 6% above VT |
$280,400±$36kLowest 11% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,105±$51Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,914Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Whiting 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% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
11.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest 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 |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 15% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | ||||
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.