Compare towns
Middlesex vs Jackson vs Dummerston vs Waterbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% 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 | Middlesex | Jackson | Dummerston | Waterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
897Lowest |
2,090 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterbury and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jackson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$103,917±$23k 29% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$447,200±$40k 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Jackson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,435 106% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.8%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterbury 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.3%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Waterbury 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 | — | — | — | #20 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Jackson School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.