Compare towns
Dummerston vs Jackson vs Salem vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Jackson has the oldest population (median age 56.9).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Jackson | Salem | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,695Lowest |
2,611 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
56.9±3.6Highest 46% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$77,375±$8kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$83,398±$12k 3% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kHighest about the U.S. average |
$235,400±$40k 29% below U.S. |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,139±$43 19% below U.S. |
$948±$40 33% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$4,165 34% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
77.8%±44.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jackson 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Salem 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 | — | — | #376 of 484 in NY | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.