Compare towns
Dummerston vs Putney vs Strafford vs Thetford
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).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Putney | Strafford | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,622 |
1,372Lowest |
2,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+7.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
43.6±6.2 about the VT average |
| 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest 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%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.8%±6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
68%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.7%±4.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$88,045±$16k 8% 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$329,500±$96k 4% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,141±$96 8% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$6,948 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
49.7%±30.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Thetford 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
23 min 4% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Thetford 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.