Compare towns
Dummerston vs Underhill vs Westminster vs Calais
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).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Underhill | Westminster | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
3,141Highest |
2,999 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Calais 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Underhill and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
— | $916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.