Compare towns

Westmore 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

Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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.

MeasureWestmoreDummerstonBenson
People
Population
465Lowest
2,090Highest
784
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-7.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
51.5±11.5
19% above VT
45.6±11.7Lowest
6% above VT
51.9±9.4Highest
20% above VT
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±6.9
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.5%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Lowest
VT: 21.4%
26.9%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
32.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
7%±5.8Highest
VT: 7%
Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,188±$11k
7% above VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$78,625±$8kLowest
3% below VT
Dummerston and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$330,000±$137k
4% above VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$242,000±$26kLowest
24% below VT
Dummerston and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,050±$820Lowest
15% 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
$5,357Highest
6% above VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$4,125Lowest
18% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35%±94.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
53.4%±35.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Benson and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
5.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.2%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
49% above VT
21 minLowest
11% below VT
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
14%±5.6Lowest
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
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.