Compare towns
Dummerston vs Thetford vs Waitsfield 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 affordable homes ($330k median).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Waitsfield | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,813Highest |
1,918Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.6±6.2Lowest about the VT average |
44.3±5.3 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% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Waitsfield 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% |
63.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above 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±$96kLowest 4% above VT |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Waitsfield and Middlesex 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$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 |
$6,948Highest 38% above VT |
$6,208 23% above 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% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Thetford and Waitsfield 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | 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.