Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Hanover vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castleton | Dummerston | Hanover | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453 |
2,090Lowest |
8,479Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #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 | None yet | 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.