Compare towns
Williston vs Chester vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Williston | Chester | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
2,992 |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Chester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
33.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$232,900±$44kLowest 26% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$960±$44Lowest 22% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,262Lowest 15% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.