Compare towns
Middlesex vs Shelburne vs Dummerston vs Calais
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%).
Shelburne has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Shelburne | Dummerston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
7,969Highest |
2,090 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Shelburne 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% |
20.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Middlesex 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 |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,442±$589Highest 17% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,408±$392 14% above VT |
| Shelburne and Calais 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 |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne 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 | — | #8 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.