Compare towns
Underhill vs Dummerston vs Highgate vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k median).
Westford has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Underhill | Dummerston | Highgate | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
2,090Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.1±8.6 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.9%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
9.5%±4.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Westford and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$81,017±$14kLowest about the VT average |
$112,750±$12kHighest 39% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$280,500±$21kLowest 11% below VT |
$424,500±$21k 34% above VT |
| Underhill and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$2,375±$1kHighest 92% above VT |
| Westford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,282 25% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
29.8%±31 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 39% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.1%±6.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 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.