Compare towns
Colrain vs Dummerston vs Putney vs Charlemont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colrain has the most affordable homes ($284k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Charlemont has the oldest population (median age 59.6).
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.
| Measure | Colrain | Dummerston | Putney | Charlemont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,627 |
2,090 |
2,622Highest |
1,118Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±8.7 28% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
59.6±6.7Highest 53% above U.S. |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
41.1%±10.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charlemont and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$53,063±$12kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,300±$14kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$305,500±$52k 8% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Charlemont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,023±$126 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,317Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,351 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.1%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Charlemont and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | Mohawk Trail | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hawlemont |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.