Compare towns
Elmore vs Castleton vs Dummerston vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Elmore | Castleton | Dummerston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 964 |
4,453Highest |
2,090 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45±3.5 4% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Dummerston and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,066Highest about the VT average |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.8% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 25% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 9.4%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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.