Compare towns
Fletcher vs Westminster vs Dummerston vs Fairfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fletcher has the highest household income ($106k).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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.
| Measure | Fletcher | Westminster | Dummerston | Fairfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,196Lowest |
2,999Highest |
2,090 |
1,938 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 48.7±7.3 13% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42.3±2.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Westminster and Fletcher are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 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+ | 21.7%±4 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
14.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Westminster and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,833±$9kHighest 30% above VT |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$87,019±$22k 7% above VT |
| Fletcher and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $302,100±$37k 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above 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 | $1,679±$427Highest 36% above VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
| Fletcher and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,965Highest about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,816 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.1%±78.3 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 37% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Fletcher School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— | — |
| 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.