Compare towns
Stratton vs Dummerston vs Chester vs Winhall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Winhall has the most expensive homes ($472k 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 | Stratton | Dummerston | Chester | Winhall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Lowest |
2,090 |
2,992Highest |
752 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+53.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
48.9±6.1 13% above VT |
| Chester and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17%±6.8 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±5.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$95,500±$23k 18% above VT |
| Stratton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$471,800±$55kHighest 49% above VT |
| Winhall and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,094±$732 11% below VT |
| Dummerston and Stratton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,750 6% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$6,567Highest 30% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±69.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.5%±38.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Winhall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
18.4%±9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Winhall 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 | — | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.