Compare towns
Waterbury vs Dummerston vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Calais has the most expensive homes ($390k 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 | Waterbury | Dummerston | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,753 |
2,090Highest |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.6±4.3Lowest 8% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±7.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±6.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,273±$13kLowest 33% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $375,400±$57k 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Calais and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $866±$497Lowest 30% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,446 8% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.3%±21.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 9% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 23%±9.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.