Compare towns

Richmond vs Calais vs Dummerston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most renters (21.2% rent).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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.

MeasureRichmondCalaisDummerston
People
Population
4,159Highest
1,713Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
42±8.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Calais and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
$100,625±$27kLowest
24% above VT
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
Richmond and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39kHighest
37% above VT
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
Richmond and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,408±$392Highest
14% above VT
$1,392±$126Lowest
13% above VT
Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$6,586
31% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Calais and Dummerston 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%
8.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Calais 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 #5 of 70 in VT — —
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 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

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.