Compare towns
Dummerston vs Elmore vs Putney vs Ripton
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%).
Elmore has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Elmore | Putney | Ripton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
964 |
2,622Highest |
508Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
| Ripton 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% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore 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% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton 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 |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
| Ripton 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 |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston 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 |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
— |
| Dummerston and Elmore 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 |
$5,066 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
92.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Ripton 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 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.



