Compare towns
Dummerston vs Thornton vs Middlesex 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 kids (21.7% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Middlesex has the highest household income ($110k).
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
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 | Thornton | Middlesex | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
2,799Highest |
1,943Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
19%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
46.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% 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%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$90,022±$17k 12% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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 |
$351,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,270±$428 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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. |
$5,032 61% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton and Middlesex 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Thornton School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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 |
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.



