Compare towns
Middlesex vs Castleton vs Putnam vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 53.6).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Middlesex | Castleton | Putnam | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
4,453Highest |
540Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±6.4Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Putnam and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest 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+ | 20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
35.6%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$92,344±$14k 14% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$266,200±$48k 20% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k 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. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
— | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,674 18% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | 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 History | 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.