Compare towns
Dummerston vs Westminster vs Ripton vs Putney
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%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
497Lowest |
508 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Ripton 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Ripton 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Ripton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$749±$315 39% below VT |
— | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 10% below VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Ripton 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.