Compare towns

Middlesex vs Chelsea 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Chelsea has the most affordable homes ($261k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureMiddlesexChelseaDummerston
People
Population
1,943
1,223Lowest
2,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.4±3.9Lowest
3% above VT
54.1±12.1Highest
26% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Chelsea and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Chelsea 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%
29.4%±3.5Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
Chelsea and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
29.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Middlesex and Chelsea 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
$65,913±$13kLowest
19% below VT
$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
$260,900±$39kLowest
18% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,333±$359Lowest
8% above VT
$1,524±$467Highest
24% above VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
Chelsea and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,483Highest
29% above VT
$3,762Lowest
25% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
66.3%±33.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Chelsea 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%
14.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
17% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
28.4%±10.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.6%±7.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 First Branch Unified School District #82 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.