Compare towns
Dummerston vs Hartland vs Putney vs Westminster
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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Hartland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Hartland | Putney | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
3,460Highest |
2,622 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+1.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
55.8±5.1Highest 29% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Hartland and Westminster 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% |
16.5%±5.6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Hartland and Westminster 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% |
36.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.9 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$86,136±$23k 6% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$71,491±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
| Dummerston and Hartland 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 |
$348,600±$39kHighest 10% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$273,800±$35kLowest 14% below VT |
| Hartland 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 |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$6,437Highest 28% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.1%±89.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 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% |
8.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
91.8% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.2% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.4%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 | — | #29 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hartland School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.