Compare towns

Norwich vs Putney vs Dummerston vs Richmond

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).

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.

MeasureNorwichPutneyDummerstonRichmond
People
Population
3,640
2,622
2,090Lowest
4,159Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+2.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40.8±3.2
5% below VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
43.7±5.6
about the VT average
Dummerston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±5.1Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
Norwich and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3Highest
VT: 21.4%
19.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
Dummerston and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
81%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
58.7%
VT: 43.8%
59.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±2.4
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$140,313±$12kHighest
73% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$101,696±$21k
25% above VT
$108,235±$24k
33% above VT
Norwich and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$637,500±$76kHighest
101% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$335,300±$22k
6% above VT
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,460±$322Highest
18% above VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,392±$126
13% above VT
—
Norwich and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 98% above VT
$5,313
5% above VT
$4,536Lowest
10% below VT
$6,868
36% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
30.7%±19.9
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.5%
VT: 10.1%
4.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
72.8%
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
78.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982
6 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
19% below VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
25 minHighest
6% above VT
Work from home
21%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston and Richmond 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 #1 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT — #5 of 70 in VT
School district Norwich School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.