Compare towns
Dummerston vs Williston vs Benson 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 most kids (21.7% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Williston | Benson | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
10,144Highest |
784Lowest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
| Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Benson and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$78,625±$8kLowest 3% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
| Middlesex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,113±$170Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Williston 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
32 minHighest 35% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 History | 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.