Compare towns
Dorset vs Mendon vs Putney vs Danby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Danby has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Dorset | Mendon | Putney | Danby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,092 |
1,113Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,133 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
52.6±4.8 22% above VT |
| Mendon and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5 VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$77,321±$13kLowest 5% below VT |
| Dorset and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$272,400±$41kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$794±$166 36% below VT |
| Dorset and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,543Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
18 min 24% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±5.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset and Mendon 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school 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 |
VT 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.