Compare towns
Dummerston vs Strafford vs Castleton vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k 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 | Strafford | Castleton | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,372Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.8±8.7 20% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1k 6% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Chesterfield School District |
| 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 | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.