Compare towns

Dummerston vs Wells vs Fairfield

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%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonWellsFairfield
People
Population
2,090Highest
1,148Lowest
1,938
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.6%
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
50.7±5.2Highest
18% above VT
42.3±2.7Lowest
about the VT average
Wells 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%
15.1%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield 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%
24.5%±2.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wells 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%
29.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
Fairfield and Wells 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
$75,417±$11kLowest
7% below VT
$87,019±$22k
7% above VT
Dummerston and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$243,000±$42kLowest
23% below VT
$320,600±$22k
about the VT average
Dummerston and Fairfield 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
$1,313±$282
6% above VT
$1,056±$441Lowest
14% below VT
Dummerston and Wells 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
$3,308Lowest
34% below VT
$4,816Highest
4% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
62.5%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Wells 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%
15.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
93.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
11% below VT
48 minHighest
102% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±6.2
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Wells 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 Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
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.