Compare towns
Putney vs Alton 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
Putney has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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.
| Measure | Putney | Alton | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
5,994Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Alton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Alton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
— | $1,392±$126Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,183Lowest 34% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.