Compare towns
Dummerston vs Williston vs Bolton 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 homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bolton has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Williston | Bolton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
10,144Highest |
1,163Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
36.3±1.7Lowest 16% below VT |
37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
6.7%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.8 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$111,125±$17kHighest 37% above VT |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average |
| Bolton 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$311,600±$42k about the VT average |
$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,299±$273 5% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,826 4% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
28%±30.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest 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% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
2.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 11% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Bolton 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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 |
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.