Compare towns
Mendon vs Dummerston vs Castleton vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plymouth has the most renters (22% rent).
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 | Mendon | Dummerston | Castleton | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,113 |
2,090 |
4,453Highest |
533Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
52.2±9.6 21% above VT |
| Mendon and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.7%±6.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
32.6%±10.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Plymouth and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$87,614±$8k 8% above VT |
| Dummerston and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$337,900±$21k 7% above VT |
| Mendon and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,299±$171 5% above VT |
| Dummerston and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,342 6% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,585Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±53Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
78%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 28% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16%±5.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Mendon 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school 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.