Compare towns
Middlesex vs Wilder vs Westford 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 people working from home (28.4%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Westford | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
3,087Highest |
2,290 |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
44.1±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 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%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Westford 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 |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$424,500±$21kHighest 34% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Westford and Middlesex 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 |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston 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 |
$5,505 9% above VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.