Compare towns
Northfield 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
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Northfield | Worcester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920Highest |
831Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
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 | 14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 16% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.