Compare towns
Bethel vs Dummerston vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Bethel | Dummerston | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Bethel and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% 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 | $1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Dummerston and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168 about the VT average |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | 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 Our Story | 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.