Compare towns
Wheelock vs Calais vs Dummerston vs Sheffield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wheelock has the oldest population (median age 51).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Sheffield has the most renters (16.3% rent).
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 | Wheelock | Calais | Dummerston | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 717 |
1,713 |
2,090Highest |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
| Wheelock and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Calais and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below 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 | $189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$967±$79Lowest 22% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,937 42% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1987 11 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.