Compare towns
Bristol vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
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 | Bristol | Dummerston | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,273Highest |
2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 10% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Bristol and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,438±$10k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 11% 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 | $258,300±$63kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% 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 | $1,310±$97 7% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162 33% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Dummerston 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
— | — | 10.6Lowest |
| 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.