Compare towns
Castleton vs Dummerston vs Putnam vs Hyde Park
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).
Hyde Park has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Putnam | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
2,090 |
540Lowest |
3,000 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest 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. |
41.6±3.9 7% 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% |
20%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Hyde Park 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%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest 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% |
34.6% 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% |
4.8%±3.4 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. |
$84,375±$9k 5% 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±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$198,400±$39kLowest 40% 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±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,007±$340Lowest 29% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$3,883 24% 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% |
38.8%±14.6 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% |
5.9% 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% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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% |
8.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058B · Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Lamoille Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| 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.