Compare towns

Dummerston vs Alton vs Putney vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureDummerstonAltonPutneyMiddlesex
People
Population
2,090
5,994Highest
2,622
1,943Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
53.7±3.2Highest
38% above U.S.
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
Alton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
25.1%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Alton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$113,715±$19kHighest
41% above U.S.
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the U.S. average
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
Alton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$430,400±$37kHighest
29% above U.S.
$300,000±$44kLowest
10% below U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
Alton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
—
$508±$482Lowest
64% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$4,183Lowest
34% above U.S.
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
31.7%±27.7
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
21% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston 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 — #72 of 120 in NH #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Prospect Mountain High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.1
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.