Compare towns
Dummerston vs South Hero vs Strafford
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 most affordable homes ($335k median).
South Hero has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
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 | South Hero | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,586 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
51.5±4.8Highest 19% above VT |
51.4±4.7 19% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford 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% |
14.8%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
26.5%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| South Hero 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% |
61.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and South Hero 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 |
$127,434±$15kHighest 57% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
| South Hero and Strafford 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 |
$558,300±$46kHighest 76% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,439±$221Highest 17% above VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| South Hero and Dummerston 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 |
$7,858Highest 56% above VT |
$7,149 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.6%±21Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
3.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 minHighest 4% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.3%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| South Hero and Dummerston 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 | South Hero School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.