Compare towns
Dummerston vs Panton vs Strafford 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).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% under 18).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Panton | Strafford | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
690Lowest |
1,372 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Strafford 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Strafford 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% |
35.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Strafford 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 |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Panton and Strafford 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 |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Panton and Dummerston 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 |
$6,695 33% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Strafford 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% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Panton 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 | — | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.