Compare towns
Dummerston vs Sterling vs Putney
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%).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
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 | Sterling | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,090Lowest |
8,183Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.5±1.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Sterling 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% |
18.6%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Sterling 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$129,063±$27kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sterling 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 |
$498,800±$48kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,699±$161Highest 20% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,757Highest 117% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Sterling 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Sterling 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 | — | #135 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Wachusett | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.