Compare towns
Waterville vs Enosburgh vs Dummerston vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enosburgh has the youngest population (median age 40.6).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Waterville | Enosburgh | Dummerston | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
2,804Highest |
2,090 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
20.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$3,624Lowest 28% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Benson and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Benson 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.