Compare towns

Wardsboro vs Windham vs Dummerston vs West Fairlee

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wardsboro has the oldest population (median age 51.6).
Windham has the most renters (17.1% rent).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.

MeasureWardsboroWindhamDummerstonWest Fairlee
People
Population
820
594Lowest
2,090Highest
711
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%
VT: +2.8%
—
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.6±7.3Highest
20% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
50.3±7.6
17% above VT
Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.4%±3.1
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
West Fairlee and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
44.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.9%±0.9
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3Highest
VT: 7%
West Fairlee and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,000±$6kLowest
24% below VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$76,500±$16k
6% below VT
Dummerston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$299,300±$47k
5% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$237,200±$35kLowest
25% below VT
Windham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,479±$224Highest
20% above VT
—
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,113±$171Lowest
10% below VT
Wardsboro and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,345Lowest
14% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,210
3% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.5%±58Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
50%±89.6
VT: 48.4%
Wardsboro and West Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.7%
VT: 10.1%
9.9%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.4%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
91.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1978
2 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
14% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
28 minHighest
20% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±5.1
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
5.5%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district River Valleys Unified School District #73 — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Rivendell Interstate School District
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.