Compare towns
Dummerston vs Windham vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Windham | Springfield | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
594Lowest |
9,084Highest |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Springfield 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Windham 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 |
— | $963±$100Lowest 22% 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 | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | — | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Springfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| 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.