Compare towns
Dummerston vs Castleton vs Royalton 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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Royalton has the most renters (36.5% rent).
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 | Castleton | Royalton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
4,453Highest |
2,752 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
43.9±10.1 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.4%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Royalton 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% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
42.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
8%±4.2 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT |
$103,938±$24kHighest 28% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Royalton and Dummerston 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$263,200±$73k 17% 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,040±$391 16% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,675 7% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.7%±16.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
13% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
63.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1965Lowest 11 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 11% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
20 min 13% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.8%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Royalton 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #48 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | White River Valley High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.