Compare towns
Dummerston vs Montpelier vs Middlesex 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 the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Montpelier has the most renters (46.9% rent).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Montpelier | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
8,014Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
17.9%±2.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$81,030±$6k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$375,100±$21k 18% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 |
$1,302±$113 6% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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 |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Dummerston 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% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
18 min 23% below VT |
27 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Montpelier 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 | — | #9 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Montpelier High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— | — |
| 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.