Compare towns
Manchester vs Windham vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Manchester | Windham | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,486 |
16,038Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.5±6.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Manchester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Manchester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,886±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $454,600±$47k 37% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,057±$76Lowest 25% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,923 90% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.5%±13.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Manchester 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 | #37 of 70 in VT | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.