Compare towns
Dummerston vs Putney vs Sharon vs Strafford
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 most people working from home (25.9%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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.
| Measure | Dummerston | Putney | Sharon | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,622Highest |
1,577 |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon and Dummerston 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Sharon 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Strafford 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Sharon School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None 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.