Compare towns
Dummerston vs Reading vs Underhill 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).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Underhill | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
699Lowest |
3,141Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Underhill 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 |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% 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±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Underhill and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
— | $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 | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest 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 | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.