Compare towns
Sheffield vs Middlesex vs Dummerston vs Wheelock
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sheffield has the most renters (16.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wheelock has the oldest population (median age 51).
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 | Sheffield | Middlesex | Dummerston | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 573Lowest |
1,943 |
2,090Highest |
717 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
— |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$2,937 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 28% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | 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 History | None yet | 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.