Compare towns
Worcester vs Dummerston vs Castleton vs Elmore
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).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Elmore has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
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 | Worcester | Dummerston | Castleton | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,090 |
4,453Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
47.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Dummerston and Elmore 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Elmore 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,066Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None 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.