Compare towns
Worcester vs Walden vs Dummerston
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 renters (14.1% rent).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Walden | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
1,037 |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Walden and Worcester 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% |
14.3%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Walden 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% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Walden 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% |
26.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15k 8% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Walden 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 |
$238,900±$23kLowest 25% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$900±$136Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421 12% below VT |
$3,944Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.