What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).

Putnam has the most affordable homes ($266k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Dummerston	Putnam
People
Population	2,090Highest	540Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S.	53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S.
	Putnam 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 U.S.: 22%	17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Putnam and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,696±$21kHighest 26% above U.S.	$92,344±$14kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Dummerston and Putnam 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	$266,200±$48kLowest 20% below U.S.
	Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,536Highest 45% above U.S.	$3,674Lowest 18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dummerston and Putnam 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%	7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.	1971 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 21% below U.S.	21 minHighest 19% below U.S.
Work from home	25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.