Compare towns
Putney vs Braintree vs Northfield 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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
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 | Braintree | Northfield | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
1,026Lowest |
5,920Highest |
2,090 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 14% below VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
| Braintree 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 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Putney and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$79,803±$5k about the VT average |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
| Dummerston and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% 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 |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Northfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
27 minHighest 16% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Braintree 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.