Compare towns

Dummerston vs Dorset vs Putney vs Calais

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 homeowners (92.9%).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).

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.

MeasureDummerstonDorsetPutneyCalais
People
Population
2,090
2,092
2,622Highest
1,713Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.4%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.6±11.7
6% above VT
45.9±7.5Highest
6% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
42±8.6
about the VT average
Dorset 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%
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.5%±5.4
VT: 17.9%
Dorset and Calais 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%
21.9%±4.5
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±5.2
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
7.4%±3.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$111,250±$40kHighest
37% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$100,625±$27k
24% above VT
Dorset 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±$22k
6% above VT
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$390,300±$36k
23% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
$1,420±$296Highest
15% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,408±$392
14% above VT
Dorset and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
$5,313
5% above VT
$6,586
31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±32.2Lowest
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
49%±38.3
VT: 48.4%
Dorset 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%
11.2%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
11% below VT
22 min
8% below VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
31 minHighest
32% above VT
Work from home
25.9%±10.3
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
Dorset 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 — — #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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.