Compare towns
Dedham vs Putney vs Hope vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the highest household income ($111k).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hope has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
Otis has the oldest population (median age 54.7).
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 | Dedham | Putney | Hope | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,656 |
2,622Highest |
1,748 |
705Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±2.2 20% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.6±3.1 15% above U.S. |
54.7±3.1Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.8%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dedham and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hope and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,442±$18kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$86,766±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$101,250±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,400±$33k 7% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$373,400±$33kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$282,500±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Hope and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,422±$607 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,219±$182 14% below U.S. |
$1,563±$734Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Otis and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,942 26% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$3,842 23% above U.S. |
$2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 13%±85.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±38.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
35.7%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Hope are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hope 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 | Dedham Public Schools | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hope Public Schools | Otis Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.

