Compare towns
Benson vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Dresden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Benson | Dummerston | Putney | Dresden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-17.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
59±2.8Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Dresden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dresden and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$64,180±$9kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$191,500±$48kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,066±$109 25% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,138Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.4%±48.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Benson 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | 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.