Compare towns
Monkton vs Essex vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Monkton has the highest household income ($120k).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Monkton | Essex | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,999Lowest |
11,516Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±5.4Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Monkton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Essex and Monkton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,688±$28kHighest 47% above VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$101,696±$21kLowest 25% above VT |
| Monkton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $379,900±$18k 20% above VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,301±$120Lowest 5% above VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Essex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,887 17% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±64Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Monkton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 12 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 24% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.7%±4.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Monkton and Dummerston 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | 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 History | 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.