Compare towns
Dummerston vs Reading vs Sutton 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k 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 | Reading | Sutton | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
699Lowest |
790 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Sutton 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest 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%±3 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$231,100±$41kLowest 27% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$3,975Lowest 21% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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.