Compare towns
Dummerston vs Waitsfield vs Strafford
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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Waitsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Highest |
1,918 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford 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% |
28.2%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Waitsfield 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 |
$84,375±$34kLowest 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$422,400±$92k 33% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford and Waitsfield 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 |
$1,200±$821 about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Waitsfield 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 |
$6,208 23% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Waitsfield and Strafford 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 minHighest 6% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Waitsfield 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 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Strafford School District |
| 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 |
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.