Compare towns
Dummerston vs Plainfield vs Vernon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Vernon has the most affordable homes ($285k 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 | Plainfield | Vernon | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
1,314Lowest |
2,709Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
42.6±5.4 about the VT average |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Plainfield and Dummerston 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% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Vernon 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% |
48.2% VT: 43.8% |
26.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
3%±1.7 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$85,682±$9k 6% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$318,400±$34k about the VT average |
$285,100±$25kLowest 10% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Plainfield 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,023±$214 17% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,191 3% above VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
26.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | — | — | #30 of 70 in VT | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Vernon School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.