Compare towns
Cambridge vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cambridge has the most affordable homes ($194k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Cambridge | Dummerston | Putney | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,262 |
2,090Lowest |
2,622Highest |
2,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.9±6.2 21% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Salem and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Salem 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% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.3%±6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,612±$22kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $193,800±$32kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26k 41% 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 | $1,164±$142 18% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Cambridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,111 64% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 84.7%±20.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cambridge and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Salem 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 | #376 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.5 |
| 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.