Compare towns

Sheldon 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

Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Worcester has the most renters (14.1% rent).
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.

MeasureSheldonWorcesterDummerston
People
Population
2,267Highest
831Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.5%
VT: +2.8%
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.9±3.5Lowest
5% 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
23.7%±3.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Sheldon and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.6%±2.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±2.5
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
14.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.3
VT: 7%
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,533±$25k
3% below VT
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,400±$61k
14% below VT
$271,100±$27kLowest
14% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,286±$379
4% above VT
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,578Lowest
29% below VT
$4,421
12% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±27Lowest
VT: 48.4%
25.5%±37
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Dummerston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
5.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
89%
VT: 73.2%
85.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% above VT
29 minHighest
22% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
13%±3.7Lowest
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
School district Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 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

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.