Compare towns

Putney vs Berlin vs Dummerston vs Westminster

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 youngest population (median age 37.2).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Westminster has the oldest population (median age 53.5).

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.

MeasurePutneyBerlinDummerstonWestminster
People
Population
2,622
9,383Highest
2,090Lowest
2,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
44.6±2.8
15% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
53.5±3.7Highest
38% above U.S.
Westminster and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.4%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Westminster 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%
20.1%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Westminster 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%
14.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$79,706±$18k
about the U.S. average
$45,180±$5kLowest
44% below U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
$71,491±$4k
11% below U.S.
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
10% below U.S.
$131,000±$15kLowest
61% below U.S.
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
$273,800±$35k
18% below U.S.
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
64% below U.S.
$815±$141
42% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$916±$126
35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313Highest
70% above U.S.
$3,437Lowest
10% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
$4,063
30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.7%±12Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
49.2%±7.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Putney and Westminster 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%
15.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
19 min
29% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
3.5%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Westminster 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 #108 of 120 in NH — #53 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Berlin School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town None in town Berlin Senior High School None in town Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.2Lowest
—
10.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.