Compare towns
Montpelier vs Worcester vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Montpelier has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Montpelier | Worcester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,014Highest |
831Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.4Lowest about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Worcester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,100±$21kHighest 18% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Montpelier and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Montpelier are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 23% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | #9 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Montpelier High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.