Compare towns
Sharon vs Williston vs Dummerston vs Cavendish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Cavendish has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Sharon | Williston | Dummerston | Cavendish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577 |
10,144Highest |
2,090 |
1,242Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17kLowest 4% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$285,100±$40kLowest 10% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 12% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 18 photos → |
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.