Compare towns

Strafford vs Richmond vs Dummerston

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k 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.

MeasureStraffordRichmondDummerston
People
Population
1,372Lowest
4,159Highest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
43.7±5.6Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±3.4
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$108,235±$24k
33% above VT
$101,696±$21kLowest
25% above VT
Strafford and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$431,300±$40k
36% above VT
$432,200±$39kHighest
37% above VT
$335,300±$22kLowest
6% above VT
Richmond and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$789Lowest
9% below VT
—
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$6,868
36% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±48Highest
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.9%
VT: 73.2%
78.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
about the VT average
25 minHighest
6% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
Work from home
16.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Richmond 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 Strafford School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 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.