Compare towns
Middlesex vs Barnard vs Montpelier vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Barnard | Montpelier | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,211Lowest |
8,014Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 29% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 21% above VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.