Compare towns
Newfane vs Putney vs Reading vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Dummerston has the highest household income ($102k).
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 | Newfane | Putney | Reading | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,456 |
2,622Highest |
699Lowest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Newfane and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Newfane and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
| Reading and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,266±$238 about the VT average |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,174 about the VT average |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.9%±79.7 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.2% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 13% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Newfane 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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.