Compare towns
Worcester vs Dummerston vs Fairfax
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 most affordable homes ($271k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
2,090 |
5,226Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below 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% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax 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% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
| Fairfax and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
| Fairfax 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Dummerston 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 | — | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.8 |
| 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.