Compare towns
Middlesex vs Newfane vs Sheldon 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%).
Newfane has the oldest population (median age 54.4).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Newfane | Sheldon | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,456Lowest |
2,267Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Newfane 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% |
11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Newfane 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 |
$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 |
$284,200±$49k 10% below VT |
$272,400±$61kLowest 14% 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±$359 8% above VT |
$1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average |
$1,286±$379 4% 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 | $6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,174 about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Newfane 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% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane and Middlesex 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.