Compare towns

Dummerston vs Waterbury vs Berlin

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 homeowners (92.9%).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Berlin 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.

MeasureDummerstonWaterburyBerlin
People
Population
2,090Lowest
5,405Highest
2,880
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
43.2±3.7Lowest
about the VT average
50.6±2.4Highest
17% above VT
Berlin 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%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.6%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury 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%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
Berlin 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%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
28.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8
VT: 7%
3.9%±2.9Highest
VT: 7%
Berlin and Waterbury 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
$103,917±$23kHighest
28% above VT
$86,691±$21kLowest
7% above VT
Waterbury 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
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
$273,600±$31kLowest
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
$1,169±$171
5% below VT
Dummerston and Berlin 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
$6,435Highest
28% above VT
$4,418Lowest
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
41%±19.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Waterbury and Dummerston 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%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
10.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
21 min
10% below VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.7%±3.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury 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 — #20 of 70 in VT #16 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 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
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.