Compare towns
Middlesex vs Richmond vs Dorset 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 most homeowners (96.7%).
Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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 | Richmond | Dorset | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
4,159Highest |
2,092 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.7±5.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Dorset 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Richmond 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 35% above VT |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
| Dorset 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 19% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
— | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Dorset and Dummerston 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Middlesex 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 | — | #5 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | 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 Our Story | 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.