Compare towns
Waterbury vs Calais vs Dummerston vs Richmond
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 (+5.3%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Richmond has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Calais | Dummerston | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
4,159 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±5Lowest 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+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 54.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7% VT: 43.8% |
59.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23k 28% above VT |
$100,625±$27kLowest 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$108,235±$24kHighest 33% above VT |
| Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,200±$40kHighest 41% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22kLowest 6% above VT |
$432,200±$39k 37% above VT |
| Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% 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 | $6,435 28% above VT |
$6,586 31% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,868Highest 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Calais and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.