Compare towns
Dummerston vs Peru vs Washington vs Calais
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).
Washington has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Washington | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
434Lowest |
1,056 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -0.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
52.9±5.1Highest 23% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Washington 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
21.4%±5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.3% VT: 43.8% |
31%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.7%±2 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Washington 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 |
$66,103±$8kLowest 19% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Peru 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$217,700±$37kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Peru and Calais 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 |
$1,271±$820 about the VT average |
$996±$285Lowest 19% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$3,485Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
34.5%±63.6 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Dummerston 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% |
3.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
31 min 31% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±5.7 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | 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.