Compare towns

Dummerston vs Richmond vs Waterbury 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).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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.

MeasureDummerstonRichmondWaterburyMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
4,159
5,405Highest
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+2.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
44.4±3.9
3% above VT
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.3%±3.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury 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%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Middlesex 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%
54.2%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%
3.4%±2.8
VT: 7%
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21kLowest
25% above VT
$108,235±$24k
33% above VT
$103,917±$23k
28% above 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±$22kLowest
6% above VT
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
$376,300±$40k
19% above VT
Waterbury and Richmond 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
—
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% 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
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$6,435
28% above VT
$6,483
29% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Waterbury 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%
4.2%
VT: 10.1%
7.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
3.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
25 min
6% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
27 min
17% above VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8
VT: 16.9%
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Waterbury 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 #20 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 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.