Compare towns
Barre vs Dummerston vs Epping vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Barre | Dummerston | Epping | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,412Highest |
2,090Lowest |
7,430 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Epping and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58 23% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Epping and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192 66% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 30% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Epping 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Epping School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.