Compare towns
Middlesex vs Chelsea vs Dummerston vs Ferrisburgh
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).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k 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 | Chelsea | Dummerston | Ferrisburgh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,223Lowest |
2,090 |
2,661Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.6%Lowest 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 |
45.5±4.9 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%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±4.5Lowest 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% |
23.3%±3.8 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% |
51.1% 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% |
3%±2.8 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 |
$106,989±$22k 32% above VT |
| Middlesex and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$260,900±$39kLowest 18% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Middlesex 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 |
$1,435±$173 16% above VT |
| Chelsea and Ferrisburgh 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 |
$6,120 21% above 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% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Ferrisburgh 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% |
14.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.3% 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 |
1968 8 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 |
28 min 21% above 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% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | — | — | #7 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.