Compare towns

Putnam vs Dummerston vs Dresden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Dresden has the most affordable homes ($192k median).

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.

MeasurePutnamDummerstonDresden
People
Population
540Lowest
2,090Highest
551
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-17.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Lowest
17% above U.S.
59±2.8Highest
52% above U.S.
Dresden and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.9%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
Putnam and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$92,344±$14k
14% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$64,180±$9kLowest
21% below U.S.
Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$266,200±$48k
20% below U.S.
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$191,500±$48kLowest
42% below U.S.
Dummerston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,066±$109Lowest
25% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$4,536Highest
45% above U.S.
$3,138Lowest
about the U.S. average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.4%±48.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston and Dresden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
19% below U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.