Compare towns

Putney vs Castleton vs Cornish 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).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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.

MeasurePutneyCastletonCornishDummerston
People
Population
2,622
4,453Highest
1,816Lowest
2,090
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.2±5.2Lowest
4% below U.S.
38.3±4.3
about the U.S. average
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
Cornish 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%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Castleton 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%
20.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornish 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%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.4%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Putney and Castleton 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 U.S. average
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$91,821±$2k
14% above U.S.
$101,696±$21kHighest
26% above U.S.
Dummerston and Cornish 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.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$296,000±$69k
11% below U.S.
$335,300±$22kHighest
about the U.S. average
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.
$1,137±$195
20% below U.S.
$1,221±$227
14% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
Dummerston and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,313
70% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$4,536
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±19.4
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Putney 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%
12.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
32% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
24 minHighest
8% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
16.9%±6.5
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
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 #39 of 70 in VT — —
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Cornish School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.