Compare towns
Middlesex vs Shelburne vs Williston 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%).
Shelburne has the most expensive homes ($588k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Shelburne | Williston | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
7,969 |
10,144Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% 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 |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Williston and Shelburne 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 |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 17% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.