Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Newfields 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Bennington | Dummerston | Newfields | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
2,090 |
2,023Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 15% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bennington and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15kLowest 36% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bennington and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Newfields 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Newfields School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.