Compare towns
Dummerston vs Stockbridge vs Ira 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).
Stockbridge has the most renters (15% rent).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k median).
Middlesex has the most expensive homes ($376k median).
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 | Stockbridge | Ira | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
791 |
381Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
55.3±5.3Highest 28% above VT |
54.1±5.5 26% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Stockbridge and Ira 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% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
27.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Stockbridge 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% |
35%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Ira 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 |
$77,109±$12k 5% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below 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±$22k 6% above VT |
$283,500±$26k 10% below VT |
$272,900±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$1,140±$126 8% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% 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 |
$4,488 11% below VT |
$4,146Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.3%±22Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Stockbridge 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% |
3.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 20% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.6%±12.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Stockbridge and Middlesex 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 | 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.