Compare towns
Dummerston vs Putney vs Salem
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 the most people working from home (25.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Putney | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
2,622 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Salem 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 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%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem 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 about the U.S. average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Salem 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.