Compare towns
Dummerston vs Bellows Falls vs Westminster vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dummerston | Bellows Falls | Westminster | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
2,891 |
2,999Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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 VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bellows Falls Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.