Compare towns
Worcester vs Waltham 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 affordable homes ($271k median).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Waltham | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831 |
452Lowest |
2,090Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT |
45.6±11.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Worcester 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% |
45.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
39%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Waltham 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 |
$97,500±$14k 20% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Waltham 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 |
$329,700±$51k 4% above VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Waltham 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 |
$1,096±$113 11% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,714Highest 13% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±58.6 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Dummerston and Waltham 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% |
5.3% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.6%±5.7Lowest 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.