Compare towns
Dummerston vs Peru vs Sandgate 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).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
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 | Peru | Sandgate | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
434Lowest |
435 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Sandgate 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 VT: 17.9% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Sandgate 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% below VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Peru 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±$22k 6% above VT |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Peru and Middlesex 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 |
$1,271±$820Lowest 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 |
$5,000 about the VT average |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Peru 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.