Compare towns

Castleton vs Dummerston vs Putnam

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 youngest population (median age 38.3).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).

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.

MeasureCastletonDummerstonPutnam
People
Population
4,453Highest
2,090
540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
Putnam and Dummerston 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%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
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%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
—
Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$4,536Highest
45% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
21 minHighest
19% below U.S.
Work from home
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
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

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.