Compare towns
Bennington vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Rutland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Rutland has the most affordable homes ($186k median).
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 | Putney | Rutland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,249 |
2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
15,712Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
49±2.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Rutland and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±2.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.2%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rutland and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
33.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7k 27% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$57,675±$8kLowest 29% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $213,300±$15k 33% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$185,500±$16kLowest 41% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$63 8% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$995±$65 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,657 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±8.2 VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
15.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 15 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 27% below VT |
21 minHighest 11% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
16 minLowest 32% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
8.1%±2.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | #51 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rutland City School District |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town | Rutland Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7Highest |
— | — | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.