Compare towns
Dummerston vs Thetford vs Sandgate 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).
Thetford has the most renters (15.9% rent).
Sandgate has the most affordable homes ($194k 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 | Thetford | Sandgate | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,813Highest |
435Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
55.7±5.4Highest 29% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Sandgate 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% |
15.4%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest 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% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
26%±11.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Sandgate 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% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Thetford and Middlesex 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 |
$88,045±$16k 8% above VT |
$69,167±$19kLowest 15% 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 |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
$193,800±$31kLowest 39% 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 |
$1,141±$96Lowest 8% 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 |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$2,778Lowest 45% below VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford 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% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1959Lowest 17 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
34.6%±32.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Sandgate and Middlesex 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thetford School District | — | 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.