Compare towns
Middlesex vs Castleton 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Castleton | Montpelier | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
4,453 |
8,014Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.3±2.4 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$81,030±$6k 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±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 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 | 3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
— |
| 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.