Compare towns

Worcester vs Bennington vs Dummerston vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
Bennington has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.

MeasureWorcesterBenningtonDummerstonWindham
People
Population
831
15,249Highest
2,090
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47±2.7Highest
9% above VT
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Worcester and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
17.7%±2.3
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9
VT: 17.9%
Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.2%±2.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
VT: 43.8%
36.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7Highest
VT: 7%
5.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Worcester and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below VT
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
Dummerston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
14% below VT
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
17% below VT
$1,133±$63
8% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421Lowest
12% below VT
$4,513
10% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
VT: 48.4%
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
VT: 10.1%
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
same as VT
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
22% above VT
17 minLowest
27% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Worcester 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 — #58 of 70 in VT — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town None in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.7
— —
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.