Compare towns
Putney vs Bellows Falls vs Randolph vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | Bellows Falls | Randolph | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
2,891 |
4,843Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
40.4±7.4 6% below VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
| Dummerston and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,172±$173 5% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Dummerston and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$4,698 7% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.2% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
21 min 12% below VT |
21 minHighest 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.