Compare towns
Dummerston vs Brighton vs Calais 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 the most people working from home (25.9%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Brighton | Calais | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,167Lowest |
1,713 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Calais and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Putney 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Calais 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 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Brighton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.