Compare towns
Dummerston vs Richmond vs Pawlet 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).
Richmond has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k median).
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 | Richmond | Pawlet | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
4,159Highest |
1,480Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Pawlet 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Pawlet 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% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Pawlet 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Richmond 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 |
$432,200±$39kHighest 37% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Richmond 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 |
— | $1,153±$215Lowest 7% 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 | $4,536 10% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Pawlet 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mettawee School District #84 | 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 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.