Compare towns
Dummerston vs Putney vs Strafford vs Williston
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 oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,622 |
1,372Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%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 |
45.4±4.5 5% 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 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% |
21%±3.5 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% 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% |
5.7%±2.7 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 |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Williston 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 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 |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.