Compare towns
Putney vs Castleton vs Hanover 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Dummerston has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Castleton | Hanover | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
4,453 |
8,479Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
38.3±4.3 about the U.S. average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Castleton 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% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Castleton 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 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. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school 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.