Compare towns
Calais vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Calais | Dummerston | Putney | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
1,863 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
38.7±6.1 10% below VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,317±$126 7% above VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Marshfield 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.